Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of ecotourism projects. In other words, Trust Managers operate as Chief
Executive Officers of ecotourism projects. These are persons qualified in the field
of business. In the past, the Boards of Trustees have been charged with this
responsibility a system that has proved to be inadequate. In addition to having
Trust Managers, the Government has resorted to demanding audited annual
financial statements before communities can have their licences renewed and
wildlife quota released.
In 2007, the Botswana Government took a further step and passed a
CBNRM Policy, whereby 65 per cent of the funds from any community reported
to be misusing funds is deposited in the government conservation fund. This
policy also gives the Minister responsible -the Minister of Wildlife, Tourism and
Environment -a waiver for communities that manage their finances well. The
employment of Trust Managers is one of the steps that communities involved in
ecotourism development have taken to address the problems of financial misuse.
However, if implemented, the 65 per cent required by government has the poten-
tial to result in the collapse of ecotourism projects in Botswana.This is because, as
pointed out by communities such as those of Sankoyo, the 35 per cent remaining
in the communities is too little even to pay for the running costs of their office.
While there are problems of a lack of entrepreneurial skills, marketing, financial
mismanagement and many others in ecotourism projects, in the last decade
ecotourism projects in the Okavango Delta have addressed these areas. They have
provided training for their people to enable them to acquire the necessary skills to
run ecotourism projects and, where they have limited capacity, they employ
people from outside who do have such skills.
Conclusion
The reality of ecotourism development in Botswana is that it is still in its infancy.
As a result, it has not made a considerable impact yet in terms of achieving rural
development and conservation in most villages. However, there is no doubt that in
some villages, especially in the Okavango Delta, it significantly contributes to the
improvement of rural livelihoods. Of particular interest is the availability of game
meat, the creation of employment opportunities, income generation, access to
land and wildlife resources as well as funeral benefits and recreation services.
Even though ecotourism has improved rural livelihoods in some of the
villages in Botswana, it is also characterized by problems such as a lack of indige-
nous skills in tourism development; the misappropriation of funds and a lack of
re-investment of the funds generated by ecotourism. As such, if ecotourism is to
improve rural livelihoods and sustainable natural resource use, the empowerment
of local groups through training in entrepreneurial and managerial skills in
tourism should be given priority.This will reduce the problems associated with re-
investment, mismanagement or misappropriation of funds. Training of local
communities can be achieved through both formal and informal training
programmes. This goal has the potential to promote sustainable rural livelihoods
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