SUSTAMABILITY OF WILDLIFE UTILISATION IN THE CHOBE DISTRICT, BOTSWANA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper assesses the influence of policies on the ecological, economic and sociological sustainability of wildlife utilisation using a case study of Chobe District in northern Botswana. The paper further assesses how some international conventions influence the conservation and utilisation of wildlife resources in Botswana. The approach used in the study was essentially a literature review with some visits to the study area where consultative meetings with key stakeholders were held in order to verify the validity of the available information and clarify an contradictory issues found in the literature. The study found that wildlife management in Botswana is regulated and guided by the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act and the Wildlife Conservation Policy. Wildlife utilisation on the other hand is facilitated by the Tourism Act, the Tourism regulations and the Community Based Natural Resources Management Policy. Though reliable data is not available, it is believed that wildlife is very important to the economy of Botswana as it contributes substantial revenues through photographic tourism and safari hunting and provides employment to many people in rural communities in which wildlife utilisation takes place. In 1997, a total of 750,000 tourists came to Botswana resulting in a total of US$181 million being realised by the industry. It is in due recognition of the importance of wildlife and its contribution to the economy that the government of Botswana has set aside about 17% of the country as National Parks and Game Reserves. The study identifies drought, illegal hunting, livestock cordon fences, wildlife-human conflicts and CITES regulations and unequitable sharing of wildlife generated revenues between local communities and the tour operators as the major threats to sustainable wildlife conservation and management in Botswana.