Rural development schemes, conservation & tourism
Most Namibians have roots in a rural area — a village, a communal farm or a cattle post — and that is exactly where most of our poverty is found. In this lesson we look at the schemes used to develop rural areas across Southern Africa (loans and credit, small projects, cooperatives, resettlement, integrated and grassroots development, appropriate farming) and the real problems in making them work. We then see why we must conserve the rural environment — trees, soil, water and wildlife — and reach the big idea of sustainable development. We meet the state, groups and individuals who do the work, and how culture and values shape it in Namibia. Finally we celebrate Namibia's world-famous community conservancies (CBNRM) and weigh, in a clear balance table, the positive and negative impacts of tourism on people, the economy and the environment.
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Development Studies 5.1):
- Describe and evaluate rural development schemes and strategies used in Southern Africa, and the problems in implementing them: loans and credit schemes, small-scale rural projects, farmers' cooperatives, resettlement schemes, integrated rural development and the mobilisation of the rural population, grassroots development, and appropriate farming methods
- Describe and demonstrate the need to conserve the environment in rural areas: land clearance, fuel/wood supplies and deforestation, soil erosion and land degradation, ground and water pollution caused by agriculture, maintaining wildlife diversity, and sustainable development
- Describe and explain the role played by the state, formal and informal groups, and individuals in rural development, including the influence of the culture, beliefs and values of individuals and groups in rural development issues in Namibia
- Describe and evaluate strategies for diversifying resources and community participation in tourism: cultural tourism and conservation, featuring Namibia's community conservancies (CBNRM)
- Explain the positive and negative impacts of tourism on people, the economy and the environment in Southern Africa
Miss Catherine and Mike talk through the whole topic — with the figure and working drawn live.