Bocchino, ClaraBurroughs, Richard E.J.2013-06-212013-06-212013-02-22Bocchino, C. & Burroughs, R., 2013, ‘Synergies across the natural resources management fields in Southern Africa: Disaster Risk Reduction and One Health’, Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 5(2), Art. #74, 10 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v5i2.742072-845X (print)1996-1421 (online)10.4102/jamba.v5i2.74http://hdl.handle.net/2263/21691Both authors are expert in the two approaches object of the text. None of the information provided is influenced by professional or personal affiliation to an institution, but it is the outcome of research work conducted in the field of study.The paper was conceived and written for the most part by C.B. (Faculty of Law, North West University). R.B. (Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria) was responsible for writing the One Health section and contributed to the review and finalisation of the paper.For various reasons, Southern Africa may be considered the playground as well as the thinking tank for many theories and practices in the natural resources management field. History has contributed to reshape conservation practices through colonial times, and recent wars have led to the relocation of people from their homelands and the appropriation by people of previously protected areas due to socio-economic pressures. Contemporary practices stemming from sustainable development have not yielded the expected results in resolving critical socio-economic stresses that impact on environmental health. Furthermore, human health has deteriorated in remote rural areas due to the failures of governance systems and the perpetration of non-participatory models for natural resources management, especially conservation. This paper seeks to explore how two relatively new approaches, Disaster Risk Reduction and One Health, can together tap into the theoretical and practical gaps left by previous paradigms in order to instill a sustainable development approach that can benefit both people and natural resources in remote and poor rural areas.10 p.PDFen© 2013. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Natural resources managementConservation practicesSustainable developmentHuman health systemsArticle