Mottiar, Shauna.Bafana, Ronald Mpilo.2024-02-052024-02-0520202020https://hdl.handle.net/10413/22659Master’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.The purpose of the study was to investigate the lived experiences of the local communities that live adjacent to protected areas (PA) in South Africa using a case study of Khula Village which is located in KwaZulu-Natal. The literature which was reviewed acknowledges the importance of protected areas however the communities who reside close to protected areas are not fully benefiting from the protected area management, leading to conflicts between management authorities and local communities. This study has sought insight from community members in Khula Village in pursuit of the overarching research question: a) What are the benefits of protected areas management to local communities? b) What are the factors that hinder the flow of benefits? and c) How is the protected area perceived? The individuals interviewed provided data for the research questions. The findings that I gathered suggest that this community has nothing against conservation but the issue is how it is done. The community is not enjoying the benefits of conservation this has led to clashes between the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority (IWPA) and the community, unfortunately some of these clashes have often led to fatalities. By applying the political ecological approach (Robbins, 2012), as a basis of analysis my study suggests that the approach of management of IWPA is unsustainable; not involving of local people from protected areas management leads to conflict; the state control of the PA has negatively affected the livelihood of the local community. The study findings have recommendations that may help inform the government and management agencies to manage PA more sustainably.enProtected area.Local community.Conservation.Conflict.Thesishttps://doi.org/10.29086/10413/22659