Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
communal lands as part of a Community Based Natural Resource Management
(CBNRM) programme funded by USAID, which used policies allowing local
communities to gain economic benefits from wildlife, natural resources and
tourism in Wildlife Management Areas. Communities could apply for a wildlife
quota and form registered community trusts. They could then sublease land, sell
wildlife quotas or form joint ventures with private tourism operators (Zeppel,
2006). In 2000 there were 14 registered trusts, which operated activities such as
hunting and photographic tourism, campsites, bird watching and mokoro safaris
(Rozmeijer, 2000).
The trophy hunting joint ventures can generate substantial income. Safari
outfitters competitively bid for the rights to hunt in a concession area, and
communities sell their wildlife quotas for valuable species such as lion, leopard
and elephant. The quotas are paid in advance to community trusts, and refunds
are not provided if animals are not killed (Gujadhur and Motshubi, 2000). In
addition to revenue, the hunts also provide meat from game animals, and some
employment for men tracking, skinning and tanning. Photographic tours are
offered in non-hunting seasons (October to March), while community campsites
with tours cater to self-drive visitors and mobile safari companies (Zeppel, 2006).
Communal and household benefits
A summary of the benefits received from tourism activities based in communal
areas of Botswana are indicated in Table 7.2. In 2001 tourism activities operating
in 11 community trusts had generated economic benefits of US$1.25 million, 2
which Zeppel (2006) calculates provided an average of $325 per person, or $82
per hectare.
In the case of partnership arrangements, Arntzen (2003) reports that the
poverty reduction potential of CBNRM projects from joint-venture agreements is
often similar or much higher to the monthly income accrued by households from
wages. Taking a specific community based organization as an example, the Khwai
Development Trust is a local institution that the people of Khwai formed to
enable them to benefit from wildlife resources through consumptive and non-
Table 7.2 Summary of benefits from community trusts and
tourism ventures in Botswana
Area (km 2 ) Population
Economic
Jobs
US$ per
US$ per
(n = 10)
(n = 10)
benefits
(n = 9)
person
ha
(BWP)
(n = 9)
(n = 9)
(n = 11)
Total
27,012
21,030 7,073,337
678
Average
2701
2103
643,031
75
325
82
Min
589
75
100,000
5
16
4
Max
12,225
10,000 1,500,000
145
1648
218
Note: Originals were in BWP, and converted using exchange rate of 0.16977 on 1 June 2006.
Source: Adapted from Rozemeijer, (2000) and Mbaiwa (2005b) cited in Zeppel (2006)
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