Beyond Park Boundaries

Model for managing Energy Transition Barriers in Gonarezhou National Park Neighbourhood.

The reliance on biomass energy sources and their adverse effects on climate and biodiversity represent significant challenges in Africa. Despite various commitments among African nations to advance sustainable energy solutions, there remains a persistent dependence on non-renewable energy resources, with community efforts to transition facing multifaceted challenges.

This research investigates the context-specific barriers inhibiting communities surrounding Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) from transitioning from biomass-based energy to renewable alternatives and explore collaborative strategies utilized to manage the barriers. Employing Bronfenbrenner's Socio-Ecological Theory as a guiding framework, the study aims to elucidate the dynamics of energy transitions and the various influences on energy choices within the GNP neighborhood.

The qualitative and quantitative data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a community survey. Findings reveal that fuelwood is the predominant energy source in the GNP neighborhood. The study also found that the transboundary nature of fuelwood resource use is evident through wood poaching in wards 12 and 15 of Chiredzi RDC, particularly near the Mozambican border. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive transboundary resource management, as emphasized in the 2002 Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) treaty. The study identified critical barriers to energy transition, including high initial costs for renewable energy infrastructure, inadequate electrical grid connectivity, insufficient information dissemination and entrenched cultural practices. These barriers perpetuate reliance on fuelwood, ultimately leading to unsustainable resource use and forest degradation in areas adjacent to the GNP.

To address these barriers, the study advocates for the facilitation of renewable energy collaborative partnerships to provide essential community support services such as funding and training. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of information sharing and community engagement in discussions regarding the implications of energy choices on biodiversity conservation and local livelihoods, both at the GNP neighborhood and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) levels.

To promote a comprehensive energy transition strategy in the GNP community, the study proposes the establishment of a Community Energy Transition Scheme (CETS), a collaborative initiative aimed at facilitating community-based energy transition efforts.