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Bioenergy project appraisal in sub‐ S aharan A frica: Sustainability barriers and opportunities in Z ambia
Author(s) -
Duvenage Ian,
Taplin Ros,
Stringer Lindsay
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2012.01453.x
Subject(s) - sustainability , viewpoints , political ecology , poverty , politics , social sustainability , environmental planning , economic growth , natural resource economics , business , political science , environmental resource management , economics , geography , ecology , art , law , visual arts , biology
Although there is continuing debate surrounding biofuel cultivation (especially in developing nations) in relation to issues of exploitation, land grabbing, poverty alleviation and energy security, there is a lack of empirical evidence to assess how these debates are playing out in practice on the ground. Drawing on political ecology discourse, this paper examines case studies of biofuel production in Zambia and the effects they have on environmental and social sustainability. During A pril and M ay 2011, data were collected on two case study projects involving Jatrophacurcas feedstock cultivation in Z ambia. Semi‐structured interviews were used to ascertain views from affected stakeholders (local farmers, local environmental, social, and agronomic experts, and investors) on the biofuel projects and their environmental and social impacts. The findings suggest that the uneven distribution of costs and benefits are brought about by imbalances in knowledge, access to resources and the allocation of social and political influence (often associated with broader discourses of development), and this provides a likely rationale for a lack of sustainability in biofuel projects. Drawing on these viewpoints, as well as on field observations, this paper outlines the barriers and opportunities linked to Jatrophacurcas project sustainability.