ABSTRACT
Botswana is very fortunate in terms of the diversity and range of natural resources in the country, boasting mineral resources as well as rich flora and fauna. Approximately 18 per cent of the country’s land area is designated as protected areas and an additional 24 per cent is classified as wildlife management areas (WMAs), which are further subdivided into controlled hunting areas (CHAs) (Broekhuis, pers. comm.). Population density is low – 1.68 million people in 2001 – spread over a vast area (582,000km2) and the economy is driven by a profitable diamond trade (CSO, 2003). Relatively high national wealth and low population density has limited competition over valuable (renewable) natural resources and allowed for the decentralization of community user rights and benefits to those resources. This chapter provides a brief description of the development of the CBNRM approach in Botswana and its status today, addressing the concerns of a growing chorus of local critics who are doubtful about the impact of CBNRM.
