Chapter Eight. Promise And Reality Of Community Based Natural Resource Management In Botswana: Common-Pool Resource Use And Institutional Change In Ikoga, Okavango Delta (Panhandle)

Abstract

This paper describes common-pool resource management in one of the major African tourist destinations; the Okavango Delta is also one of the hot spots of biodiversity in an otherwise arid environment. The case is of major interest because of its political and economic environment. The state of Botswana has been one of the most stable, although not the most democratic state related political systems in Africa and shows an incredible economic performance, if one compares it to the other states examined in this volume. This is due to its income from diamonds, as well as income from tourism, coupled with political stability. We will examine how this contributes to the situation of common-pool resource use and management in the area. More concretely, the paper argues that although local institutions for the management of the commons have been dismantled, three main factors help to keep resource extraction low. Keywords: africa; botswana; common pool; okavango delta