16.08.2013 Views

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 ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

not regard community-based <strong>tourism</strong> as a good idea, stated that <strong>the</strong>y had received<br />

no direct benefits from <strong>the</strong> CBNRM programme. Their view was that community­<br />

based <strong>tourism</strong> is only <strong>of</strong> benefit to members <strong>of</strong> community-based organisations and<br />

expatriate safari companies operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> area (Mbaiwa, 2002).<br />

7.3.5 The Local Natural Resource Institutional Framework <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango<br />

Delta<br />

Access to, and <strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong>, <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s and participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> by<br />

rural communities is carried out through local <strong>in</strong>stitutions known as Community­<br />

Based Organisations (CBOs) or trusts. Community-Based Organisations or trusts<br />

are a prerequisite for communities to be allocated a Controlled Hunt<strong>in</strong>g Area and a<br />

wildlife quota by <strong>the</strong> DWNP (Mbaiwa, 2002; Mbaiwa, 2004). Community trusts or<br />

organisations, as local <strong>in</strong>stitutions, provide leadership <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> land and<br />

<strong>resource</strong>s such as wildlife for <strong>tourism</strong> purposes by participat<strong>in</strong>g communities.<br />

As such, CBOs are registered trusts that provide a locally controlled <strong>in</strong>stitutional<br />

framework <strong>in</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> development <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta. CBOs co-ord<strong>in</strong>ate<br />

<strong>tourism</strong> activities for <strong>the</strong>ir respective communities. The operations <strong>of</strong> CBOs are<br />

guided by a constitution which addresses issues <strong>of</strong> membership, organisation and<br />

duties for each CBO (Mbaiwa, 2002).<br />

In order for a community to establish a legal Community Based Organisation, <strong>the</strong><br />

election <strong>of</strong> a village representative group and registration with <strong>the</strong> Botswana<br />

Government is required. Once <strong>the</strong> community has formed a legally recognisable<br />

Trust and developed a Land Use Plan, it can apply for a lease over <strong>the</strong> relevant<br />

piece <strong>of</strong> land, usually a Controlled Hunt<strong>in</strong>g Area (CHA), with<strong>in</strong> a Wildlife<br />

Management Area (WMA), with <strong>the</strong> Tribal Land Board. Each CHA conta<strong>in</strong>s a wildlife<br />

<strong>of</strong>f-take quota designated by <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Wildlife and National Parks.<br />

However, some CHAs with<strong>in</strong> protected areas have a hunt<strong>in</strong>g quota <strong>of</strong> zero, while<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r CHAs are designated for community use only. The Community Based<br />

Organisation can <strong>the</strong>n choose to sub-lease <strong>the</strong> use-rights <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir land and hunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

quota to a private <strong>tourism</strong> company for photographic or hunt<strong>in</strong>g safaris, and this has<br />

<strong>the</strong> potential to br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> substantial <strong>in</strong>come to rural areas (Boggs, 2000; Sorensen,<br />

2003).<br />

326

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!