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

7.3.7.2 Lack of Understanding of the Concept of CBNRM by the Local
Communities
The CBNRM concept in Botswana and the Okavango in particular is relatively new
and is generally not understood by the local communities (Mbaiwa, 2002). As a
result, community-based projects rely, for much of their support, on the Department
of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) which mobilises communities to form CBOs
and provides them with most of the technical advice in forming joint venture
partnerships with safari operators. This dependence on the DWNP in providing
direction for CBOs is unsustainable, in (as stated earlier) that projects that rely on
outside assistance are generally not fully independent and are most likely to
collapse once the external support is withdrawn. In addition, Rozemeijer and van der
Jagt (2000) highlight the fact that the DWNP does not have the necessary resources
for long-term facilitation. At times it endorses the establishment of a trust, and
provides a wildlife quota, knowing that it will not be able to provide the necessary
follow-up support, leaving behind a resource rich, but institutionally challenged
community (Mbaiwa, 2004).
The lack of understanding by the rural communities of the concept of CBNRM in the
Okavango Delta is further illustrated by the failure of communities to invest money
generated from CBNRM projects appropriately. This is shown by many local
communities proposing and engaging in community-based projects that are too
elaborate and complicated for them to understand and manage. For example, in an
attempt to re-invest funds generated from land rentals or the sale of wildlife quotas,
almost all CBOs have bought Land Cruiser vehicles, which have effectively been
turned into free public transport systems for the respective Villages. They have also
tried to invest their money by starting up businesses such as kiosks and bottlestores
in their villages, which often failed due to a lack of managerial skills and
mismanagement of funds (Table 7.11) (Mbaiwa, 2002).
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