Linking Livelihood Vulnerability and Ecosystem Vulnerability in Southern Africa: Consequences for Ecosystem Management and Development (original) (raw)

People in southern Africa are facing escalating levels of risk, uncertainty, and consequently vulnerability, as a result of multiple, interacting stressors and threats including HIV/AIDS, poverty, food insecurity, rising food costs, political instability, poor governance, climate change, globalization and trade liberalization and land degradation, to name but some. Vulnerability or livelihood insecurity emerges when poor people as individuals or social units have to face such harmful threats or shocks with inadequate capacity or capability to respond effectively. In such situations people often have no choice but to turn to their immediate environment for support. Evidence suggests that rising levels of livelihood vulnerability is driving increased dependency on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which in turn, and along with other threats, is rendering ecosystems more vulnerable.