Scrutinising Multidimensional Challenges in the Maloti-Drakensberg (Lesotho/South Africa)

Jess L. Delves, V. Ralph Clark, Stefan Schneiderbauer, Nigel P. Barker, Jörg Szarzynski, Stefano Tondini, João de Deus Vidal and Andrea Membretti
Additional contact information
Jess L. Delves: Center for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, 53113 Bonn, Germany
V. Ralph Clark: Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), Department of Geography, QwaQwa Campus, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba 9866, South Africa
Stefan Schneiderbauer: Center for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Nigel P. Barker: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Jörg Szarzynski: Center for Global Mountain Safeguard Research (GLOMOS), Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Stefano Tondini: Center for Sensing Solutions, Eurac Research, 39100 Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
João de Deus Vidal: Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), Department of Geography, QwaQwa Campus, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba 9866, South Africa
Andrea Membretti: Afromontane Research Unit (ARU), Department of Geography, QwaQwa Campus, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba 9866, South Africa

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: The Maloti-Drakensberg (MD) is the largest and highest-elevation mountain system in southern Africa. Covering 40,000 km 2 and reaching 3500 m, the MD provides a range of ecosystem services (ES) to the entire southern African region—benefitting diverse users and extending well beyond the mountains. Rapid socioecological change threatens the provision of ES and presents multidimensional challenges to sustainable development. However, the continued land degradation and persisting socioeconomic problems indicate that development policy has not been effective in tackling these issues. In this paper, a multidisciplinary literature review forms the basis of a discussion which takes an ES framing to scrutinise the multidimensional social, political, economic and cultural issues in the study area. Three critical management systems are presented, and their associated ES are discussed, namely, water transfer, rangelands and conservation and tourism. In particular, the diversity of ES uses and values in the MD is considered. The results reveal the main drivers of continued unsustainable development and highlight important information gaps.

Keywords: traditional authorities; governance systems; land use; Lesotho Highlands Water Project; overgrazing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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