The Nexus between Ecosystem Services, Livelihood Strategies andSocial Well-Being of Riparian Communities Around SandleniMntjuzalala Wetlands, Eswatini

Abstract

An explorative descriptive study was carried out at the Ngololweni wetland in the Shiselweni region of Eswatini to assess the linkages among ecosystem services, livelihood strategies, and social wellbeing of riparian people. This study followed both quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative data and an interview schedule was used to collect the qualitative data through interviews with key informants. A checklist was also used for observation purposes. The data revealed the important nexus between the wetland, livelihood strategies and the peoples’ wellbeing as 93.7% of the respondents reported that the wetland was important for their livelihoods. Several important services provided by the wetland to the people were also reported including the importance of the wetland in the provision of water and harvesting of resources, its importance in the harvesting of resources, and its importance in culture, water availability, and harvesting of resources. Several activities were reportedly practiced in and around the wetland of which, the major reported is the harvesting of resources 63.5% of the respondents. The outstanding resources harvested among others include umhlanga, umuzi, incoboza and likhwane which are used for cultural purposes by young maidens and also older women for making traditional handcraft. The paper concludes that people form an integral part of wetlands and derive a range of products from, and also influence, wetland processes. Hence, any attempt to mismanage and destroy this linkage can have an adverse impact on the livelihood of the people. It recommends that the Government of Eswatini through the Ministries of Tourism and Environment, Agriculture, and Natural Resources should harmonize and develop a policy and guidelines to specifically protect the wetlands and guide their use in the country. Furthermore, the Ministry should conduct capacity building and awareness campaigns among riparian people to embrace the protection and sustainable utilization of the country’s wetlands.