REPORTÉ - Loss of land and livelihoods from mining operations: A case in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Ce « Bouillon d'idées » est reporté à une date qui vous sera communiquée ultérieurement.

Loss or degradation of communal lands can have major implications for people’s livelihoods and well-being in rural underdeveloped areas. Mining operations are one driver of land loss with negative implications for people. This Bouillon talk will discuss the history and livelihood effects of open-cast mining on a rural communal land village that lost 8 000 ha of land. The results suggest that the loss of land and the ecosystem services it provides has negatively affected people’s livelihood strategies and outcomes, making them more vulnerable. In particular though loss of land for substance cropping, ability to harvest certain non-timber forts products, and grazing loss has negatively affected local people, and very little was seen to be gained from the mine in terms of employment through Social Labour Plans (SLPs) or through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This loss accounts for substantial decreases in household income, both as cash earnings and savings, and negatively affects household food security making local communities more venerable. This study highlights the importance of considering land access and associated land based livelihoods in rural communal land areas in the context of disturbance and change. Recommendations for future assessments and policy on compensation for rural communities are discussed in the conclusion.

Le «Bouillon d'idées» est un séminaire proposé par le groupe de recherche «Développement, Sociétés, Environnements», dans lequel les chercheuses et les chercheurs sont invité·e·s à présenter une recherche en cours.