Environment and Poverty in Southern Africa – regional linkages

3.1 Poverty and environmental governance 3.2. Poverty, disasters and risk mitigation 3.3 Poverty, the environment and livelihoods 3. 4 Poverty and environmental degradation 3.5 Poverty and environmental justice and entitlement 4. Relative importance of issues 4.1 Issues for regional action 4.2 Country specific issues 4.3 Issues for national attention across the region 4.4 Trade offs between local and international development objectives 4.5 Gaps and data weakness 5. Bibliography 6. Appendices 6.1 Southern Africa's landscapes of difference 6.2 Statistical profiles of Southern Africa's poverty and environments Executive Summary 1. Objectives The objective of this report is to provide an overview of the linkages between poverty and environment in Southern Africa. It is neither a synopsis of environment, nor of poverty, but rather focuses on the interface and interrelationship of these issues in the region. 2. The poverty/environment matrix On the basis of the international literature dealing with the relationship between poverty and environment a framework of analysis is proposed. Application of the matrix highlights the differential impacts associated with a focus on either governance issues, disaster mitigation, strengthening livelihood strategies, the health and other costs of degradation or opportunities for mobilising around environmental issues. Poverty and Environmental governance Poverty, disasters and risk Mitigation Poverty, the environment and livelihoods Poverty and environmental degradation Poverty and environmental justice and entitlement Land Water Coastal zone Plants Urbanisation Mining SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ISSUES ACROSS SECTORS 3. Regional variation in poverty and environment The application of the matrix to the regional scale masks the very significant variation between and within nations of Southern Africa. A portrait of some of the differences in environmental and poverty profiles is presented in the Appendices. The Bibliography gives details of the extensive empirical material available on these issues in the region. The three major points to come out of this report: a. Poverty and environment are inextricably connected in Southern Africa. b. The relationship between poverty and environment is complex, varying geographically and sectoraly. c. Different conceptual understandings of the causes and dynamics of poverty influence the evaluation of how environment and poverty are connected. Five related but distinct perspectives are identified in the report. It is argued that they need to be simultaneously accounted for in policy and practice that aims to mainstream poverty and environment into development practice. Other general points to emerge are: • The most pressing issues in the poverty/environment nexus in Southern Africa are urbanisation …