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 ...
communities will develop positive attitudes towards natural resources and, hence, use them sustainably. In assessing the local community attitudes towards natural resources, studies conducted in both Botswana and Southern Africa were considered. Mordi (1991) and Perkins and Ringrose (1996), for example, state that attitudes and perceptions of the local people within Ngamiland District are generally negative towards wildlife conservation. Findings by Mwenya et al (1991) regarding the situation in Zimbabwe show that people's attitudes are largely based on the personal or community ownership they attach to wildlife resources (Mbaiwa, 2004). However, according to Mbaiwa (2004), within the Okavango Delta area itself, communities are increasingly developing positive attitudes towards natural resource conservation. For example, Mbaiwa (2004) states that, within the three villages of Khwai, Seronga and Ditshiping (all of which are part of the CBNRM programme) 60.9 percent of the local inhabitants interviewed felt that it was necessary to have wildlife resources in the grasslands and forests of the Okavango Delta. Respondents argued that wildlife attracts tourists to the area and tourism creates employment opportunities, development, and generates revenue. Hence, the respondents view wildlife as a valuable resource. On the other hand, 37.6 percent of the local inhabitants interviewed within these three villages stated that they did not support the existence of wildlife within the Okavango Delta. These respondents regard wildlife as being destructive to their crops and livestock, as well as spreading disease to livestock. They also stated that the existence of wildlife in the area has led to much of their land being occupied by foreign tourism investors, from which they generally derive very little, or nothing at all (Mbaiwa, 2004). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Maun noted that ever since the introduction of the CBNRM programme in the Okavango area there has been a reduction in poaching statistics. This demonstrates that local communities are starting to place increasing value upon wildlife resources, which helps to encourage the sustainable use of the resource within their local environment. According to the DWNP, local attitudes and perceptions within the Okavango Delta are slowly beginning to change, from negative views on wildlife conservation, to positive perceptions of sustainable, local natural resource use and management (Mbaiwa, 2004). 340
7.4 Summary and Conclusion While the implementation of CBNRM projects in the Okavango Delta has problems, it is still too early and unrealistic to assess and pass judgement that these projects have completely failed. They have only been operating for less than a decade, and the mere fact that there is an operating CBNRM programme in Botswana can, in itself, be considered a success (Mbaiwa, 2002). CBNRM in the Okavango Delta has succeeded in income generation, employment creation and the establishment of local institutions meant to ensure local participation in natural resource management and tourism development. CBNRM has also succeeded in determining the economic value of natural resources in the Okavango Delta. The high economic value placed on natural resources, especially wildlife, has started to result in the development of positive attitudes, by the rural communities towards natural resource conservation, particularly wildlife. Even though there have been socio-economic, political and conservation benefits achieved through the implementation of CBNRM in the Okavango Delta, the sustainability of the programme remains questionable. However, in the event that all stakeholders (e.g., government, community-based organisations, private sector and non-governmental organisations) share information, building communications networks in promoting trusts and transparent decision making is carried out, it is possible for CBNRM to ultimately achieve its objective (Mbaiwa, 2004). This chapter provided an overview of the present day use of natural resources by the local communities in the Okavango Delta. It presented an analysis of the critical issues relating to current natural resource utilisation and management structures in the Okavango, focusing in particular on tourism's impact upon the Delta's natural resources. Lastly, it provided an overview of the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme in the Okavango Delta and discussed in detail the issues associated with the implementation of this programme and its role in natural resource management. The next chapter provides a detailed overview of the socio-cultural and environmental impacts arising from the development of the tourism industry in the Okavango Delta, and focuses on the current and future threats facing the Okavango Delta and its resources. 341
- 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 326 and 327: Botswana because populations of bot
- 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: their land, etc., such as cash, mea
- 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
- Page 377 and 378: most of these impacts remain unchec
- Page 379 and 380: According to Lovemore Sola of Conse
- Page 381 and 382: 8.3.2.2 Creation of Illegal Roads i
- Page 383 and 384: permeability. Pollutants can theref
- Page 385 and 386: iverine systems. According to Tache
- Page 387 and 388: implement laws and regulations cont
- Page 389 and 390: and resulted in the publication of
- Page 391 and 392: lowest, and substantial proportions
- Page 393: Angola considered the construction
- Page 396 and 397: ministries most closely involved in
- Page 398 and 399: most to lose if the Okavango in its
- Page 400 and 401: • Development of monitoring syste
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- Page 404 and 405: CHAPTER NINE Evaluation, Recommenda
- Page 406 and 407: circumstances, the impacts of touri
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7.4 Summary and Conclusion<br />
While <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> CBNRM projects <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta has problems,<br />
it is still too early and unrealistic to assess and pass judgement that <strong>the</strong>se projects<br />
have completely failed. They have only been operat<strong>in</strong>g for less than a decade, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> mere fact that <strong>the</strong>re is an operat<strong>in</strong>g CBNRM programme <strong>in</strong> Botswana can, <strong>in</strong><br />
itself, be considered a success (Mbaiwa, 2002).<br />
CBNRM <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta has succeeded <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>come generation, employment<br />
creation and <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> local <strong>in</strong>stitutions meant to ensure local<br />
participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> <strong>management</strong> and <strong>tourism</strong> development. CBNRM<br />
has also succeeded <strong>in</strong> determ<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> economic value <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Okavango Delta. The high economic value placed on <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s, especially<br />
wildlife, has started to result <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> positive attitudes, by <strong>the</strong> rural<br />
communities towards <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> conservation, particularly wildlife. Even<br />
though <strong>the</strong>re have been socio-economic, political and conservation benefits<br />
achieved through <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> CBNRM <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta, <strong>the</strong><br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> programme rema<strong>in</strong>s questionable. However, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> event that all<br />
stakeholders (e.g., government, community-based organisations, private sector and<br />
non-governmental organisations) share <strong>in</strong>formation, build<strong>in</strong>g communications<br />
networks <strong>in</strong> promot<strong>in</strong>g trusts and transparent decision mak<strong>in</strong>g is carried out, it is<br />
possible for CBNRM to ultimately achieve its objective (Mbaiwa, 2004).<br />
This chapter provided an overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> present day use <strong>of</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s by<br />
<strong>the</strong> local communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta. It presented an analysis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> critical<br />
issues relat<strong>in</strong>g to current <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> utilisation and <strong>management</strong> structures <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Okavango, focus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> particular on <strong>tourism</strong>'s impact upon <strong>the</strong> Delta's <strong>natural</strong><br />
<strong>resource</strong>s. Lastly, it provided an overview <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Community Based Natural<br />
Resource Management (CBNRM) programme <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta and discussed<br />
<strong>in</strong> detail <strong>the</strong> issues associated with <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> this programme and its<br />
<strong>role</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> <strong>management</strong>. The next chapter provides a detailed overview<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> socio-cultural and environmental impacts aris<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta, and focuses on <strong>the</strong> current and future<br />
threats fac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta and its <strong>resource</strong>s.<br />
341
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