Sustainable Development, Social Work Practitioners, Indigenous Communities, and Traditional Leadership Interface in Biodiversity Conservation

Abstract

Biodiversity conservation is one of the main economic drivers that contribute to sustainable development. The degradation of land and extinction of species along the coast, because of natural disasters may be regarded as the main threats to sustainable livelihood. This paper serves to explore if the interface of indigenous community, social work practitioners and traditional leadership serves as the key drivers for economic development and sustainable livelihood. A qualitative design was used to conduct the study, involving the indigenous community, social work practitioners, and traditional leadership in uMkhanyakude District Municipality, situated in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty participants were recruited through a purposive sampling method. Data was analysed through thematic analysis. Ecological theory was appropriate for this study as it considers the environment from the micro, messo and macro level. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) was also adopted as an explanatory lens. Findings indicate that the collaboration of social workers with indigenous community and traditional leaders in living harmoniously with objects – plants and animals can assist to preserve natural resources and manage biodiversity in developing and sustaining partnerships that establish and deepen an interdisciplinary multi sectoral approach to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The paper concluded that the human beings’ reliance on biodiversity conservation is indispensable.

Keywords: Sustainable development, Biodiversity conservation, indigenous community, social work practitioners, traditional leadership, Sustainable Livelihoods Approach