Social and Political Determinants of Natural Resource Use in Liuwa Plain National Park and Simalaha Community Conservancy, Western Zambia

Natural resources (e.g., forest, fisheries and wildlife) play a key role in rural livelihoods and national development; however, the social and political drivers of their use remain poorly documented, particularly in remote ecosystems. This study examines these determinants in western Zambia, comparing Liuwa Plain National Park (multi-stakeholder management) and Simalaha Community Conservancy (community-based management). We hypothesized that local social and political factors significantly influence resource-use behavior. In this study, cross-sectional data (which is not ideal for causal relationships) was collected through a mixed research framework by employing household surveys (n = 758), semi-structured interviews (n = 12), and focus group discussions (n = 6) and analyzed using binary logistic regression within a frequentist framework. Results revealed site-specific social determinants of participation, which was significant at both sites, while networking, technology, and collective action were significant only in Liuwa, and cooperation and trust only in Simalaha. Political determinants also diverged: land tenure and resource monitoring were shared across sites, while exclusion shaped Liuwa and power relations influenced Simalaha. The presence of shared determinants suggests opportunities for harmonized policy approaches, whereas site-specific factors necessitate targeted interventions. We conclude that sustainable resource management and conservation planning must explicitly integrate these key social and political determinants, tailored to the prevailing governance regime, to enhance rural entrepreneurship and long-term ecological sustainability.