Understanding the experiences of small-scale commercial afforestation farmers and governance conflicts in Manguzi, South Africa: Political Ecology Perspective

Abstract Small-scale commercial afforestation has always played a vital role in stimulating rural livelihoods in South Africa and across the globe. This paper explores the lived experiences of small-scale commercial afforestation farmers in Manguzi, South Africa. This study aimed to investigate and understand the factors that influence these farmers to get involved in this afforestation and explore the impacts on their livelihoods. This paper also investigates the conflict between the farmers and the Department of Water and Sanitation over the policies that control afforestation practices and water use in South Africa. Following a qualitative approach, 26 small-scale farmers were interviewed, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that this type of afforestation is the only economic activity that has been able to earn rural dwellers a living for more than 30 years in Manguzi, however, it has succeeded at the expense of water resources which is concerning to the conflicted department. Following political ecology, we argue that environmental issues in Manguzi are the results of socio-economic conditions and that asymmetric power relations exist between the farmers and the conflicted department. The study recommends implementing integrated rural development strategies in Manguzi and providing entrepreneurship training to explore other economic opportunities.