Community perceptions of wildlife management strategies and subsistence poaching in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

A study on the Okavango Delta, Botswana, reveals that while Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) was initially perceived as effective in reducing subsistence poaching, its effectiveness waned following the 2014 government hunting moratorium. Households interviewed across four villages reported that the ban led to job losses, reduced access to game meat, and increased subsistence poaching. The conflicting strategies of CBNRM and the hunting ban alienated local communities from wildlife management, exacerbating poaching issues. The research, grounded in Routine Activities Theory, highlights the complex interplay between policy implementation and community perceptions in conservation efforts.

Gaodirelwe, I., Motsholapheko, M. R., & Masunga, G. S. (2020). Community perceptions of wildlife management strategies and subsistence poaching in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 25(3), 232–249. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1727589