the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ... the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
Botswana because populations of both livestock and humans were small. Nowadays, human and wildlife populations are too large for wildlife management and agriculture to be conducted in the same area. Nevertheless, the DWNP acknowledges that a more integrated approach is needed, and is possible, if all sectors of the economy are given equal consideration in Ngamiland District (Mbaiwa, 1999). 7.2.5 Fish Resources in the Okavango Delta Large numbers of fish are harvested/caught by both the local inhabitants of the Okavango Delta and tourists. However, fishing is still a secondary activity for most local people who live in this area, used mainly to supplement rural diets, and hence contributing little to the overall cash or in-kind incomes of the majority of rural homes. Most locals also pay less attention to fishing than to farming and business activities (Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004). 7.2.5.1 The Use of Fish Resources by the Local Inhabitants According to the 50 local inhabitants interviewed throughout the Okavango Delta and Panhandle region, over half of the respondents, 32 people or 64 percent, stated that they consumed fish from the Okavango River/Delta (mostly bream) on a regular basis (at least once a week or more, when possible). A further 14 individuals (28 percent) stated that they occasionally ate fish from the Okavango River/Delta (maybe once a month), while 4 people (8 percent) stated that they generally never consumed fish from the Okavango. Of the 46 local inhabitants interviewed that stated they did eat fish from the Okavango, just over half (54 percent) stated that either they, or a family member that they lived with (generally a young male), caught this fish from the River/Delta. The remaining 46 percent stated that they usually bought the fish from local fishermen or vendors in their respective towns/villages. Only 47 percent of those individuals stated that fish was the primary source of meat/protein for themselves and their families. The remaining 53 percent stated that they used fish as a secondary meat source to supplement their diets, and generally bought other types of meat (usually goat or beef) from local butcheries. 302
Of the 50 local people interviewed, only one person stated that he was a full-time commercial fisherman who relied predominantly on catching and selling fish to make a living. A further 3 people stated that they sometimes caught and sold fish commercially to supplement their incomes. The fish was sold both to local villagers and tourist facilities in the Okavango region. In the smaller, more rural villages in the Okavango Delta region, traditional fishing methods are still used by many of the inhabitants. These include fish funnels and kraal and corral traps, mud-wall capture methods, fish fences with valved traps and corrals, woven scoop baskets, push baskets, bows and arrows, set fish hooks and spears. Modern equipment consists of gill, morden and seine nets, line and hooks, wire mesh tykes and mosquito nets. In the Delta, approximately 46 percent of the fishermen fish with line and hooks, 42 percent with traditional baskets, 14 percent with nets, 9 percent with spears and 6 percent with traps (Odell, 1976; Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004). In the Okavango Delta around 3200 people are reported to fish, 99 percent of whom are small-scale fishermen who catch for domestic consumption. The highest concentration of fishermen is in the Panhandle area as access to permanent water is much easier than elsewhere where most settlements are further from fishing grounds. The total weight of fish caught per year in the Delta generally does not exceed 400 tonnes: 270 tonnes caught by subsistence fishing and 130 tonnes by commercial fishermen (Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004). The traditional fishing methods have been proven to be more ecologically sound as only certain sizes of fish are caught, enabling the fish populations to sustain themselves. For example, traditional woven fishing baskets, unlike modern fishing nets, have a loose weave, which allows the smaller fish (including juvenile fish) to escape from the baskets, helping to ensure the re-population of the Delta. Fishing activities have changed significantly over the years in Botswana. One such change has been in the development of commercial fisheries and the expanding use of 'modern fishing' methods. Increasingly, traditional fishing methods and equipment, such as woven fishing baskets are being replaced by gill, mosquito and morden nets. Motor boats now allow fishermen to travel to areas throughout the 303
- Page 275 and 276: Lastly, wildlife tends to congregat
- Page 277 and 278: Table 6.17: Major Safari Companies/
- Page 279 and 280: indicates that Botswana has more ar
- Page 281 and 282: 6.4 The Economic Impact of Tourism
- Page 283 and 284: weakest with agriculture, construct
- Page 285 and 286: As noted earlier, the greater major
- Page 287 and 288: Table 6.25: Estimated Tourism-Relat
- Page 289 and 290: evenue collection from the various
- Page 291 and 292: Despite these conflicting employmen
- Page 294 and 295: According to the study carried out
- Page 296 and 297: management positions in the tourism
- Page 298 and 299: Seventy four percent of the 50 loca
- Page 300 and 301: Table 6.33: List of Private Air Cha
- Page 302 and 303: CHAPTER SEVEN Natural Resource Util
- Page 304 and 305: natural resources of water and pris
- Page 306 and 307: According to personal interviews co
- Page 308 and 309: • • • • • • • • Dea
- Page 310 and 311: Experience shows that some animals,
- Page 312 and 313: inhabitants of the Okavango Delta r
- Page 314 and 315: control is vested with central gove
- Page 316 and 317: conservation area. This led to conf
- Page 318 and 319: Table 7.4: Main Stakeholders, Land
- Page 320 and 321: 7.2.3.1 Arable Farming and Wildlife
- Page 322 and 323: Table 7.6: Livestock Ownership in K
- Page 324 and 325: Furthermore, the NCS has failed to
- Page 328 and 329: Delta, while previously inhabitants
- Page 330 and 331: facilities that do not have boats,
- Page 332 and 333: • • • • • 7.2.6 Since the
- Page 334: different products, wood is perhaps
- Page 337 and 338: Today, Hyphaene petersiana palms as
- Page 339 and 340: populations in the rivers have drop
- Page 341 and 342: The importance of people remaining
- Page 343 and 344: CBNRM aims at alleviating poverty a
- Page 345 and 346: the wildlife populations and their
- Page 347 and 348: no longer an important livelihood s
- Page 349 and 350: • • • • • • 7.3.4 Clari
- Page 351 and 352: Leases are given for 15 year period
- Page 353 and 354: Table 7.10: Community-Based Organis
- Page 355 and 356: 7.3.6.3 The Okavango Paler's Trust
- Page 357 and 358: at the same time allowing them to d
- Page 359 and 360: eports on financial management and
- Page 361 and 362: Table 7.11: Brief Review on Progres
- Page 363 and 364: their land, etc., such as cash, mea
- Page 365 and 366: 7.4 Summary and Conclusion While th
- Page 367 and 368: 8.2 Impacts of Tourism on Local Cul
- Page 369 and 370: tourists in an area provide a sourc
- Page 371 and 372: are left to perform all the traditi
- Page 373 and 374: 8.3.1 Positive Environmental Impact
- Page 375 and 376: the country. As a result, it is ass
Botswana because populations <strong>of</strong> both livestock and humans were small.<br />
Nowadays, human and wildlife populations are too large for wildlife <strong>management</strong><br />
and agriculture to be conducted <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> same area. Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong> DWNP<br />
acknowledges that a more <strong>in</strong>tegrated approach is needed, and is possible, if all<br />
sectors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> economy are given equal consideration <strong>in</strong> Ngamiland District (Mbaiwa,<br />
1999).<br />
7.2.5 Fish Resources <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta<br />
Large numbers <strong>of</strong> fish are harvested/caught by both <strong>the</strong> local <strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Okavango Delta and tourists. However, fish<strong>in</strong>g is still a secondary activity for most<br />
local people who live <strong>in</strong> this area, used ma<strong>in</strong>ly to supplement rural diets, and hence<br />
contribut<strong>in</strong>g little to <strong>the</strong> overall cash or <strong>in</strong>-k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>in</strong>comes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> rural<br />
homes. Most locals also pay less attention to fish<strong>in</strong>g than to farm<strong>in</strong>g and bus<strong>in</strong>ess<br />
activities (Mendelsohn and el Obeid, 2004).<br />
7.2.5.1 The Use <strong>of</strong> Fish Resources by <strong>the</strong> Local Inhabitants<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> 50 local <strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>in</strong>terviewed throughout <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta<br />
and Panhandle region, over half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> respondents, 32 people or 64 percent, stated<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y consumed fish from <strong>the</strong> Okavango River/Delta (mostly bream) on a regular<br />
basis (at least once a week or more, when possible). A fur<strong>the</strong>r 14 <strong>in</strong>dividuals (28<br />
percent) stated that <strong>the</strong>y occasionally ate fish from <strong>the</strong> Okavango River/Delta<br />
(maybe once a month), while 4 people (8 percent) stated that <strong>the</strong>y generally never<br />
consumed fish from <strong>the</strong> Okavango.<br />
Of <strong>the</strong> 46 local <strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>in</strong>terviewed that stated <strong>the</strong>y did eat fish from <strong>the</strong><br />
Okavango, just over half (54 percent) stated that ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y, or a family member that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y lived with (generally a young male), caught this fish from <strong>the</strong> River/Delta. The<br />
rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g 46 percent stated that <strong>the</strong>y usually bought <strong>the</strong> fish from local fishermen or<br />
vendors <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir respective towns/villages. Only 47 percent <strong>of</strong> those <strong>in</strong>dividuals<br />
stated that fish was <strong>the</strong> primary source <strong>of</strong> meat/prote<strong>in</strong> for <strong>the</strong>mselves and <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
families. The rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g 53 percent stated that <strong>the</strong>y used fish as a secondary meat<br />
source to supplement <strong>the</strong>ir diets, and generally bought o<strong>the</strong>r types <strong>of</strong> meat (usually<br />
goat or beef) from local butcheries.<br />
302
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