Across Southern Africa, communally governed rangelands support wildlife, vast informal economies and millions of people.

 
There has been international interest in rangelands as spaces for landscape restoration and ecosystems management associated with ‘nature-based solutions’ (NbS). But these dynamic landscapes are often misunderstood.

Much of the evidence about NbS comes from very different settings in the Global North. This leads to assumptions and practices that do not take account of the histories of Southern African rangelands, and their changing social, ecological and political contexts.

REPAiR critically explores whether and how equitable, contextual, community-led approaches to NbS can support adaptability and resilience in Southern Africa’s rangelands.

Latest posts

10 May 2026 Pablo Manzano

The misunderstood relation between biodiversity and pastoralism

We should question deep rooted assumptions about how pastoralists, livestock and wildlife can co-exist.

28 April 2026 Linda Pappagallo

Myth: ‘People and livestock are bad for biodiversity’

Beyond myths based on stories of lost Paradise or a romantic wilderness, there are diverse ways of seeing the relationships between humans, livestock and wildlife.

HIGHLIGHTS

Understanding rangelands and grasslands

Rangelands are complex and productive landscapes, but have been neglected and misunderstood in agricultural policy.

Who we are

The REPAiR team brings together disciplinary and thematic research expertise spanning the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities, with partners based in the UK and South Africa. The team also includes people with practical experience in working with rangeland communities on conservation and market access.

Meet the team

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Project Partners