the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

Table 5.2: Land UselTenure Change in Botswana (square kilometres)
1974 -1995
Land Use/Tenure 1974 1981 1995
Land Area Percentage of Land Area Percentage of Land Area Percentage 01
square Total Land square Total Land square Total Land
kilometer Area kilometer Area kilometer Area
Communal Land
PasUarab/resid 446511 76.8 415315 71.4 281 615 48.4
TGLP ranches 24292 4.2 24292 4.2
Lease ranches 13090 2.3 13090 2.3 13090 2.3
SUb-Total 459601 79.0 452697 77.8 318997 54.8
Freehold Land
Freehold farms 18959 3.3 19429 3.3 19109 3.3
Arable blocks 320 0.1
Sub-Total 18959 3.3 19429 3.3 19429 3.4
State Land
National parks 37360 6.4 37815 6.5 37815 6.5
Game reserves 62239 10.7 63517 10.9 63517 10.9
Forest reserves 163 4555 0.8 4555 0.8
WMA's 133700 23.0
QBLDC 3408 0.6 3717 0.6 3717 0.6
Sub-Total 103170 17.7 109604 18.8 243304 41.8
Total Land 581 730 100.0 581 730 100.0 581730 100.0
Source: Republic of Botswana Environment Statistics, 2000.
As Table 5.2 shows, Botswana has at least 111 011.75 square kilometres of
protected area, which is 19,1 percent of the total land area of the country. In
addition, a further 23 percent is reserved for conservation use as Wildlife
Management Areas (WMAs). Therefore, about 42 percent of Botswana's land area
is reserved for conservation purposes (Republic of Botswana Selected
Environmental Indicators, 2002).
5.2.6 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
WMAs are an integral part of Botswana's tourism policy implementation. They
facilitate the implementation of the wildlife resource orientated Community Based
Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme. The Botswana Government
has adopted CBNRM as a way of ensuring that communities participate in natural
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