Community-based natural resources management (CBNRM) and tourism: The Nata Bird Sanctuary Project, Central District, Botswana

Abstract

The research assesses the impacts of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) and tourism upon community livelihoods, local behaviour and wildlife conservation. The research aims to analyze whether CBNRM is working as it is intended as well as to assess the socio-economic status of the community in terms of whether the CBNRM project has influenced their livelihoods for the better, than when the project was non-existent. The research findings indicate that CBNRM projects can deliver in terms of improvement of rural local community’s livelihoods and natural resources management. However, a lack of understanding of the CBNRM concept, lack of entrepreneurships and managerial skills, poor participation by general membership, poor distribution of the income benefits and lack of consultation to the project’s community membership by the project management are some of the constraints and challenges that emerge from the case study of the Nata Bird Sanctuary CBNRM project.