The Botswana CBNRM Policy: A Challenging Opportunity

1
The Botswana CBNRM Policy A Challenging
Opportunity

• Why and How?

2
CBNRM POLICY

• 1996 - Drafting Commenced
• 1999 - Savingram from PS, Local Government and
  Lands proposing that CBNRM revenues should go to
  the District Councils not CBOs
• 2002 - Wildlife vs Diamonds arguments
• 4 th Draft of the Policy inclusive and balanced
  (2003)
• 2003 - Second Proposal on money going to
  District Councils
• 5 th draft of the CBNRM Policy reaction to the
  Mismanagement of funds in CBOs (2005) biased
  towards wildlife resources
• 2006 CBNRM campaign using a theater group
  play performed in all the wildlife based CBOs,
  MEWT conferences and CBNRM workshops
• 2006 CBNRM play turning point in the Botswana
  CBNRM history
• APPROVAL DATES CABINET 26 /07/ 2006
  Parliament 26/ 07/ 2007

3
Challenges

• Resource utilisation royalty will be paid to the
  Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism not
  District Councils as before.
• CBOs shall collect socio-economic data to support
  sound CBNRM practices.
• Government will set resource harvesting quotas.

4
OBJECTIVES (opportunities)

• Create a foundation for conservation-based
  development
• Specify land tenure and natural resources user
  rights, which may be devolved to communities
• Protect the intellectual property rights of
  communities with regard to NRM
• Encourage communities to participate meaningfully
  in CBNRM monitoring.
• Facilitate capacity building within communities
  to engage in natural resources-based tourism
• Establish an institutional support framework for
  the implementation of CBNRM
• Promote communication, education and public
  awareness on CBNRM.

5
Challenges

• The involvement of the private sector in tourism
  concessions must continue but local communities
  will be encouraged to buy shares in such
  ventures.
• The decision to award the tender to a particular
  joint venture partner will however rest with the
  TAC. The tender award decision will be subject to
  written approval by the Land Authority.
• Institutional capacities of NGOs will be
  strengthened to meet specific needs of
  communities.

6
Challenges

• proceeds of the sale of natural resource
  concessions and hunting quotas
• 35 may be retained by the CBO.
• 65 shall be deposited in the National
  Environment Fund.
• The Minister may however, vary these percentages
  depending on the circumstances and needs of a
  particular CBO.

7
National Environmental Fund

• 65 of funds derived from the sale of natural
  resource concessions and hunting quotas shall be
  deposited into NEF.
• To finance the community based environmental
  management and eco-tourism projects throughout
  the country.
• The Fund will be managed by a Committee appointed
  by the MEWT.
• The DEA will provide a Secretariat for the Fund.

8
Recommendations

• Development of the Policy Implementation Plan
• Pre-Policy Implementation analysis
• Development of the constitution guidelines
• Review of the existing CBOs constitutions and
  aligning them with the policy.
• National CBNRM baseline survey
• Establishment of an integrated CBNRM performance
  database
• Development of institutional annual action plans
  example CAPs
• Continuous ME
• Initiatives for adding value to CBNRM

9
Objectives of CBNRM Policy - PIP

• To facilitate the effective participatory
  implementation of the policy
• To enhance communication between stakeholders
• To ensure that stakeholders understand their
  roles
• To identify opportunities, challenges and gaps
• To determine institutional capacity and
  strengthening needs
• To identify and strengthen linkages between CBNRM
  and other development initiatives

10
EXPECTED OUTPUTS OF THE PIP

• Broad CBNRM Policy Implementation Plan and annual
  work plans ( 4 year plan and annual plans)
• Setswana version of the CBNRM Policy
• CBNRM policy publicity materials
• CBNRM performance data
• Regular policy briefs for decision makers and
  stakeholders
• Harmonization of the CBNRM institutional
  structures
• Broader understanding of the CBNRM Policy by
  stakeholders
• Clear definition of roles for different
  stakeholders

11
Adding Value to CBNRM

• To expand opportunities and alternatives for
  sustainable rural livelihoods
• To promote conservation and build stocks
• To enhance sustainability of CBNRM
• How?
• Diversifying CBNRM activities
• Designing suitable implementation models

12
Objectives of the Agric Based Initiatives

• To promote food production and security.
• To assist in poverty alleviation.
• To create employment opportunities.
• To promote the spirit of self-reliance in the
  communities.

13
Linking CBNRM with other livelihoods sources -
Agriculture

• WHY Agric-Based Initiatives for Conservation?
• Divert the socio-economic dependency from the
  natural resources
• Reduce commercialization of NR
• Reduce unsustainable harvesting of NR
• Create awareness on how a healthy natural
  ecosystem support agriculture.
• Ownership and control

14
How will the project be carried out?

• Interest groups will form the production units
  (10 15 members)
• Membership will be on a share-holding basis.
• CBO will own a certain percentage of shares and
  the members of the production unit will share the
  remaining percentage equally.
• The Production Units will start with ownership of
  around 40 and as time goes by and their
  managerial skills and abilities improve, they
  earn more shares.
• The checks and balances for auditing the
  performance of the production units will be put
  in place
• The highest shares that a Production Unit could
  own could be 60 or 75 and the rest remain with
  the Trust.
• The Trust will use the profits to fund new
  Production Units or maintain old ones when
  necessary.

15

• Its not the policy itself that matters, it is
  its implementation arangements that moves
  mountains!!!!