Community benefits through community based natural resources management in Botswana

This publication presents a discussion of the range of benefits that can be generated by communities from CBNRM activities. The findings of this analysis attempt to address key issues at stake in CBNRM implementation in Botswana. Initiatives predominantly focus on generating financial benefits as soon as possible. Some questions which arise are: do large sums of money acquired by a community guarantee an improvement in the living conditions of its people? How do subsistence economies cope with an increasing commercialization of the available nature resources? What alternative benefits can be generated from CBNRM? The initial CBNRM initiatives were implemented in the northern part of the country (Chobe District), hence there is a tendency to draw lessons from early experiences. However, the context of the project in Chobe is entirely different from situations in other parts of the country, and depends on prevailing natural resources and related livelihood strategies, culture and history, levels of material well-being and education. The authors argue that the choice of CBNRM approach and related options for the generation and utilization of benefits should be situation-specific. Three case studies are used.