article
Changes in natural resource use among Owambo agro-pastoralists of north-central Namibia resulting from the enclosure of local frontiers
African studies monographs, ary issue, • (40) • Published In 2010 • Pages: 129-154
By: Fujioka, Yuichiro.
Abstract
This is a study of the drivers of land use change in an Ovambo agro-pastoral community. The long-standing pattern was transhumant pastoralism between permanent homesteads and seasonally-used communal pastures located at the frontier of village lands. With the end of the War of Independence in the late 1980s, some wealthy household heads established private cattle posts at the frontier, grazing their livestock throughout the year and claiming exclusive access to important natural resources. The resulting inequality in land access and scarcity of forest products forced poor households to use fruit trees for building materials and fuel. Meanwhile, wealthy cattle owners increased their social influence over poor household heads by gifting desired forest products in exchange for labor service or other favors.
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Environmental Scientist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2021
- Field Date
- 2002-2005, 2007
- Coverage Date
- 1970-2007
- Coverage Place
- northern Oshana Region, Namibia
- Notes
- Yuichiro Fujioka
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 152-154)
- LCCN
- 83644713
- LCSH
- Ovambo (African people)