Publication

Since the 1990s, the development–conservation paradigm in Southern Africa has shifted from an approach that emphasized centralized management and wildlife protection, to one that 1) better incorporates socio-economic development, and 2) promotes inclusive management and sustainable livelihood strategies through Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). This paper provides a historical overview of CBNRM and examines how successful it has been in addressing “rural livelihood improvements,” while also accounting for biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource use. Finally, the text’s author highlights some of the lessons learned in Namibia and Botswana to strengthen community-based decision making and management.