iSimangaliso protests expose failed co-management, governance crisis in South Africa

Communities around iSimangaliso Wetland Park are protesting via tree felling, fence cutting, and road blockades, driven by grievances over a failed co-management deal that promised access, benefits, and decision-making but delivered top-down rules, harassment, and unpaid compensation. The unrest signals a governance crisis in conservation management, with implications for park operations and community relations. The situation is developing, with the government's response uncertain.