Epistemic Justice in Nature Reserves Management: Exploring Intersecting Indigeneity and Politics of Belonging in Dwesa, South Africa

Natural resource management through nature reserves and protected areas has sparked great interest among a variety of stakeholders. Global institutions, as well as national governments and policies, acknowledge the importance of institutionalizing natural resource management to achieve sustainable development goals. However, the literature frequently ignores the consequences of epistemic inequalities caused by stakeholders’ varying indigeneity and politics of belonging. These injustices emerge when stakeholders do not have equal control over resource management and exploitation. This research focuses on two distinct stakeholder groups with opposing views on environment conservation: indigenous peoples and the legally recognized management of Dwesa Nature Reserve in South Africa (referred to as DNR from here onwards). The main aim of this study was to understand how these two sets of stakeholders perceive one another with regards to epistemic disparities, indigeneity, and politics of belonging. This enabled the exploration of the extent to which these perceptions have an impact on DNR management. Data were obtained from 96 community members from four villages located along DNR using focus group discussions. Additionally, one representative from DNR management participated in a key-informant interview offer an ‘official’ perspective. The study revealed significant differences in indigeneity, politics of belonging, and epistemic standings among stakeholders. However, these differences do not inherently lead to epistemic injustice in the management of the DNR, as each group views the other as epistemic outsiders, thus balancing potential unfair treatment. Despite their distinct epistemic and cultural backgrounds, all stakeholders engage in nature conservation through different terminologies and frameworks. The study highlights the intersection of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and Euro-American Knowledge Systems, demonstrating their interdependence and effective communication within their respective contexts. Both knowledge systems help to achieve the common objective of protecting the DNR. The study also reveals overlaps between stakeholders’ indigeneity and epistemic knowledge, demonstrating that, while their techniques differ, their shared goal is sustainable conservation. The research advocates for more inclusive conservation frameworks that acknowledge and embrace the diverse epistemic contributions of all stakeholders. Addressing social and epistemic disparities can make conservation initiatives in DNR sustainable.