Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a Tool for CBNRM in Botswana
Case Study C0095
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| Fecha | 2001 |
| Agencia | Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and Nqwaa Khobee Xeya Trust (NKXT) |
| Tipo de proyecto | Implemented by agency |
| Contexto(s) | Community conserved area |
| Cobertura geográfica | Botswana |
| Localidad | Kgalagadi North sub-district, in South-western Botswana |
| Enfoque en biodiversidad | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Enfoque en desarrollo | Local villages (Ukhwi, Ncaang and Ngwate) |
| Objetivos de conservación | Implement natural resource monitoring and management prgrammes to ensure species and ecosystem health |
| Objetivos de reducción de la pobreza | Alleviate rural poverty by empowering communities to manage resources for long-term social, economic and ecological benefits |
Resumen
This case study examines the incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) projects in KD1, which is a controlled hunting area (CHA) in the north-western part of the Kgalagadi North sub-district in Botswana (KD is an acronym for all CHAs in the Kgalagadi district). The CHA that KD1 belongs to is in turn part of a wildlife management area (WMA), which in Botswana is an area where wildlife utilisation and management is the recognised form of land use. There are three main human settlements in KD1,Ukhwi, Ncaang and Ngwate, with a total population of approximately 834 in 2001.
CBNRM was first implemented in KD1 in September 1996, following a series of consultative and participatory meetings intended to mobilise the community. After an initial phase, when CBNRM activities were carried out by NGOs and donor agencies, all activities in the KD1 CHA are now coordinated by the Nqwaa Khobee Xeya Trust (NKXT), a community-based organisation (CBO). Activities in KD1 involve both consuptive and non-consumptive use of natural resources.
The advent of CBNRM in KD1 introduced a completely new paradign in wildlife utilization and management, which had a significant bearing on the hunting and survival methods of local people. TEK played a significant role in the early days of CBNRM, when it was used to build the land use and management plan for KD1 or to decide the hunting season, and still plays a crucial role for example in guiding tourists and hunters through KD1. Despite the benefits derived by the involvement of TEK in CBNRM a number of barriers to its involvement can be identified, modernisation being probably the main culprit.
This case study suggests that TEK has the potential to play a vital role in the sustainable management of wildlife resources, with minimal impact on the local popualtion and environment.
Impacto en la conservación
None/Not known
Impacto en la reducción de la pobreza
People in KD1 are involved in planning and decision making through their representation in the Nqwaa Khobee Xeya Trust, however there is no absolute devolution of power to the communities. CBNRM in Botswana has a revenue-sharing policy which gives the community involved 100% of the proceeds.
Estrategia para vincular conservación/pobreza
Enabling local participation in policy-/decision- making processes
Revenue sharing
Referencia #1
Phuthego, T. C. and Chanda, R., 2004, 'Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Community-Based Natural Resource Management: Lessons from a Botswana Wildlife Management Area', Applied Geography 24: 57-76