Sustainability at Crossroads: The Interplay of Ethnic Diversity, Livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management in Enclave Villages of Lake Malawi National Park

Ethnic diversity within Lake Malawi National Park's enclave villages plays a pivotal role in fostering resilient and inclusive sustainability pathways. This study reveals that such diversity facilitates the exchange of fishing techniques, farming skills, ecological knowledge, and market linkages, enabling households to develop plural and seasonally adaptive livelihood portfolios. While these practices contribute to diversified resource use—combining fishing, agriculture, tourism, petty trade, and forest use—they also exert significant pressure on local fish stocks, forests, and agricultural land. The research highlights the potential for more inclusive co-management through emerging community-based institutions and collaborative initiatives, which are increasingly facilitating coordination, rule-making, and shared stewardship. By integrating collaboration theory, social-ecological systems frameworks, and scholarship on social differentiation, this study offers practical and conceptual insights for balancing resource-dependent livelihoods with conservation in socially diverse human–nature landscapes.

Kusakari, Y., Mpeketula, P., Banda, J., Kasapila, T., Matewere, J., & Sato, T. (2026). Sustainability at Crossroads: The Interplay of Ethnic Diversity, Livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management in Enclave Villages of Lake Malawi National Park. Sustainability, 18(5), 2405. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052405