Dependence on environmental resources and implications for household welfare: Evidence from the Kalahari drylands, South Africa

Submitted by Byela Tibesigwa on 27 November 2014

This paper examines dependence on environmental resources and impacts on household welfare among the indigenous San and Mier rural communities neighbouring Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa. Data on the various household income types, including environmental income, were collected through a structured survey of 200 households. Environmental income constituted 20% of the total income. The poorest income quintile showed the highest relative dependence on environmental income (31%), though absolute environmental income increased with total income.

Forestry, Policy Design