| Title | Chapter 5 |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Conservation and economic sentiment among local businesses in the Dinokeng and Cradle of Humankind projects |
| Contributor | Peter Walther Baur(author) |
| Johann Frederich Kirsten(author) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.4102/aosis.2025.BK566.05 |
| Landing page | https://books.aosis.co.za/index.php/ob/catalog/book/566 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Marius Venter & Chané de Bruyn. Licensee: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. The moral rights of the editors and authors have been asserted. |
| Publisher | AOSIS |
| Long abstract | This study explores the interplay between conservation efforts and local economic sentiment in shaping the perspectives of businesses and communities involved in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and Dinokeng projects in Gauteng, South Africa. Using primary data collected through fieldworker interviews and sentiment analysis, the study evaluates the perceived benefits, challenges and role of the local government of these projects. While respondents identified marketing and trade opportunities as positive outcomes, many felt the projects have not directly contributed to their business activities or improved local connections. Socio-economic benefits were viewed with scepticism, with only half of the respondents believing the projects effectively reduced poverty and inequality in the relevant communities. Challenges such as security concerns, financial barriers and unmet government promises emerged as significant issues. However, respondents expressed strong support for greater local government involvement, emphasising the need for enhanced marketing, security and business platforms. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies that enhance public engagement, address structural barriers and strengthen the integration of conservation efforts with socio-economic development, ensuring the long-term sustainability of these culturally and ecologically significant projects. |
| Print length | 25 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
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Peter Walther Baur is an associate professor in the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Economics from the same university. He has lectured internationally and across South Africa for many institutions, universities and business schools. His community engagement has spanned both the private and public sectors. His fields of research include cultural, financial, behavioural and development economics. He sits on the research board for the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and is a member of the Community of Practice for Entrepreneurship Research. He has acted as an economic adviser for the city council on LED, and he is a co-director for PASCAL International Observatory (Africa). He has published in several national and international journals and has often been featured in both local and international media, where he is often called upon for commentary and economic analysis. He currently heads the Arts and Cultural Research Unit of the School of Economics at UJ, South Africa, focusing predominantly on research into cultural economics and cultural entrepreneurship in South Africa. He serves as the Deputy Head of the Arts Unit at the Athens Institute of Education and Research. He sits on the Board of the Arts and Culture Trust and is a member of the Centre of Local Economic Development.
Johann Frederich Kirsten is a senior lecturer in economics at UJ, South Africa, specialising in subjective social indicators, cultural economics, economic development, inequality, and environmental attitudes and perceptions. He has published in high-impact journals such as Social Indicators Research, Sociological Inquiry and the Cambridge Journal of Economics. He is also the project manager of the Economic Development and Well-Being Research Group (EDWRG), where he fosters academic collaboration and policy-relevant research. His work has gained national media attention and international recognition, including invitations to present at prestigious conferences and institutions such as the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland, and the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS).