Liz Wilmers, Butler University
“Complexities and Challenges of Parks and People: A Community in Mbazwana and the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park”
Bio: Liz Wilmers is a senior at Butler University. She is a Sociology and International Studies double major, with a minor in Peace Studies. She studied abroad in Durban, South Africa in the spring of 2008 with the School for International Training: Reconciliation and Development. Liz loves backpacking, rock climbing, SCUBA diving, and bicycling. Her post-college plans involve traveling as much as possible.
Abstract: Successfully righting the wrongs committed against historically disadvantaged peoples while simultaneously attempting to preserve some of the world’s most naturally beautiful spaces would be a difficult task for any nation. Through a South African lens, this project will explore the actors involved in the Manaba Case and the option of restorative justice, uncover how the creation and existence of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park has affected the lives of families within the Mbazwana community, and will also examine the conservation-geared perspectives of the Park. Research was conducted over a four-week period through formal interviews with a group of facilitators from Phoenix Zululand (PZ), representatives of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZNW), and a group of local community members in Mbazwana. Delayed and unclear communication along with the improper delegation of responsibilities is at the heart of the difficulties involving the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the surrounding Mbazwana community. The findings of this study highlight the challenges in bringing together a variety of players to resolve an environmental and social conflict deeply rooted within the history of South Africa.
