Exploring the efficacy of community-based natural resource management in Salambala Conservancy, Caprivi Region, Namibia

• Main Author: De Kock, Melissa (Melissa Heyne)
• Other Authors: Ewert, Joachim
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2012
• Subjects: Natural areas > Namibia > Salambala; Rural development > Environmental aspects > Namibia > Salambala; Natural resources management areas > Namibia > Salambala; Theses > Sociology; Dissertations > Sociology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/19593

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is titled “Exploring the efficacy of community-based natural resource management in Salambala Conservancy, Caprivi Region, Namibia”. Salambala was one of the first four conservancies to be registered in Namibia following the development of legislation which enabled local people on communal lands to obtain conditional rights for the consumptive and non-consumptive use of wildlife in their defined area, and thereby to benefit from wildlife. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), an approach to natural resource management which rests on sustainable development, is the theoretical basis for this study. Characteristics of CBNRM, a brief history of its implementation and impacts in southern Africa and key principles for sustainable CBNRM initiatives shall be discussed. The study includes a discussion on the history and development of Salambala, but focuses specifically on two issues, (i) whether Salambala is a sustainable community-based resource management initiative as per the principles required for sustainable CBNRM, and (ii), whether it is meeting its own stated aims and objectives. This study demonstrates that Salambala Conservancy is adhering to the principles required for sustainable CBNRM and that it is, on the whole, achieving its aims and objectives. It is thus delivering benefits to the community which, currently, outweigh the costs of living with wildlife, and wildlife numbers are increasing. In addition, the vast majority of local people surveyed have support for the initiative. However, there are a few critical issues which must be addressed, such as human-wildlife conflict and the need to increase benefits through, for example, further tourism development, if Salambala is to continue on this path. The methodology used during the study included interviews, the use of questionnaires on a sample of the population and extensive documentary analysis of both CBNRM and the history of Salambala’s development. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsing is getiteld “’n Ondersoek na die doeltreffendheid van gemeenskapsbaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur in die Salambala bewaar-area in die Caprivi streek in Namibië”. Salambala was die eerste van vier bewaar-areas wat in Namibië geregistreer is nadat spesifieke wetgewing ontwikkel is. Hierdie wetgewing het plaaslike inwoners in staat gestel om voorwaardelike regte op gemeenskaplike grond te bekom om die natuur te verbruik (bv. vir jag doeleindes) of te gebruik (bv.vir toerisme), en so baat te vind by die natuur. Gemeenskapsgebaseerde natuurlike hulpbronbestuur (GGNHB), ‘n benadering tot natuurlike hulpbronbestuur wat berus op volhoubare ontwikkeling, is die teoretiese basis van hierdie studie. Kenmerke van GGNHB, ‘n kort historiese oorsig van die implementering en impak daarvan in suidelike Afrika, asook sleutel beginsels vir volhoubare GGNHB sal bespreek word. Die studie sluit ook ‘n bespreking in van die geskiedenis en ontwikkeling van Salambala, met spesifieke fokus op twee kwessies: (i) of Salambala ‘n volhoubare gemeenskapsgebaseerde hulpbron bestuursinisiatief is soos vervat in die beginsels vir ‘n volhoubare GGNHB; en (ii), of dit aan sy verklaarde doelwitte en oogmerke voldoen. Die studie toon aan dat die Salambala bewaar-area voldoen aan die beginsels wat vereis word vir volhoubare GGNHB en dat dit, in die geheel gesien, sy beplande doelwitte en oogmerke bereik. Dit lewer dus voordele aan die gemeenskap wat op die oomblik meer is as die kostes verbonde aan ‘n bestaan na aan die natuur. Verder neem die wildgetalle toe en toon ‘n opname onder die plaaslike bevolking oorweldigende steun vir die inisiatief. Daar is egter ‘n paar kritieke kwessies wat aandag verg, soos die konflik tussen inwoners en die wildlewe, asook die behoefte aan meer voordele wat verkry kan word deur middel van, byvoorbeeld, verdere toerisme-ontwikkeling - sou Salambala voortgaan met hierdie onderneming. Die metodologie wat in die studie gebruik is sluit in onderhoude, die gebruik van vraelyste op ‘n deursnit van die bevolking asook ‘n breedvoerige dokumentêre analise van beide GGNHB en die geskiedenis van die Salambala se ontwikkeling.