Exploring the science of involved citizenship

Abstract

Community engagement I t is becoming increasingly important to understand the interdependence between people and ecological systems as pressures rise to manage shared resources equitably and sustainably. The challenges regarding the effective and equitable management of water resources in South Africa could potentially be addressed more effectively if there was an understanding of what drives and inhibits stakeholder engagement. The Wilderness Lakes and Swartvlei systems, in the Southern Cape, have sustained communities for thousands of years. Various groups make use of the lakes and adjacent catchment area. Agriculture, forestry and municipalities all abstract water from the various rivers feeding into the lake systems, while communities use the resource for cultural practices, subsistence and recreational fishing. People also use the lakes and associated estuaries for other recreational uses, such as boating and skiing.

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