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Ending poverty in rural South Africa is simple. Achieving sustainable development lies in educating inhabitants to recognize the merits of natural resources and cultivate a moral capacity for environmental ethics. Know-how in biodiversity and ecosystems management is critical. However, conflict impedes progress. It is important to understand the origins of disputes akin to likely impacts on human and ecological resources. This book puts forward arguments that mining for minerals in Xolobeni on the Wild Coast could empower the rural poor. The author posits arguments for and against mining; opponents of the venture include Amadiba Crisis Committee and Xolobeni Local Community. The important role of external stakeholders--government, environmental organizations and relevant mining companies--provide added perspective. Unpacking diverse arguments is important to forge the way forward; achieving success hinges on upholding the laws of environmental conservation within the region and formulating a dynamic action plan to eliminate local poverty. The target readership includes writers of human development policies, educators, and rural geographers with interests in eco-tourism.

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Nomsa V. Sibane hails from East London, South Africa. She pursued her studies through the University of Fort Hare in Public Administration, Industrial Psychology, and Environmental Studies. Ms. Sibane is currently working on her Ph.D. She holds a position with the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature [Research Unit].

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