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| How CBNRM works in Botswana |
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The entire country of Botswana is split up into administrative
blocks called Controlled Hunting Areas (CHAs). Each area has
a wildlife off-take quota designated by the Department of Wildlife
and National Parks (DWNP). Some CHAs, such as protected areas,
have a hunting quota of zero. Other CHAs are designated for
community-use. Before 1995, only individual community members
could apply for Game Licenses to hunt certain game for their
personal consumption.
Now, if a community organises itself and forms a representative
Quota Management Committee, it can be recognised by DWNP to
manage the whole area's quota. The committee will decide how
to divide up the quota among families, and send wildlife monitors
out on hunting trips to make sure the quota is adhered to.
If the community then forms a legally recognised Trust and develops
a Land Use Plan, it can apply for a lease over the CHA from
the Tribal Land Board. This will allow the Trust to sub-lease
use of their land and their quota to a tourism company for photographic
or hunting safaris. This has the potential to bring in substantial
income to rural areas.
Veld (forest/non-animal) resources can also be utilised, through
co-operative harvesting and marketing ventures. Currently, products
such as grapple (devil's claw), herbal teas, phane worms and
truffles are being collected by community organisations and
sold directly to the private sector or through NGOs. Processing
and marketing techniques of various products are still being
explored.
The process for communities to gain rights over their resources
is a complex one, especially since these areas are usually very
rural, poor and under-educated. They need assistance in understanding
their CBNRM rights and responsibilities, establishing committees
and navigating the application procedure. This is where the
NGOs come in.
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