This book examines the connections between natural resources, tourism and community livelihood practices in Southern Africa, highlighting the successes and constraints experienced over the last 50 years. Questioning how natural resources, tourism and community livelihoods relations can positively contribute towards development efforts, this book adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understand socio-ecological systems that characterize the dynamics for sustainable development. It explores the history of conservation and natural resource management in Southern Africa and traces the development and growth of nature-based tourism. Boasting a wide range of tourism landscapes, including national parks, wetlands, forests and oceans, the book draws on case studies from a variety of Southern African countries, including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and considers the political challenges for implementing policies and practices. Furthermore, it analyses broader issues such as the impact of climate change, human-wildlife co-existence and resulting conflicts, poor access to funding and poverty in local communities. The book argues that the links between conservation and livelihoods can be best understood by considering the different approaches to reconciling the demands of conservation and livelihoods that have evolved over the past decades. Containing contributions from natural and social sciences the book provides guidance for practitioners and policymakers to continue to shape policies and practices that are in line with the key tenets of sustainable development. It will also be of great interest to students and scholars researching Southern Africa, sustainable tourism and conservation.

This book examines the connections between natural resources, tourism and community livelihood practices in Southern Africa, highlighting the successes and constraints experienced over the last 50 years.

Questioning how natural resources, tourism and community livelihoods relations can positively contribute towards development efforts, this book adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understand socio-ecological systems that characterize the dynamics for sustainable development. It explores the history of conservation and natural resource management in Southern Africa and traces the development and growth of nature-based tourism. Boasting a wide range of tourism landscapes, including national parks, wetlands, forests and oceans, the book draws on case studies from a variety of Southern African countries, including Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and considers the political challenges for implementing policies and practices. Furthermore, it analyses broader issues such as the impact of climate change, human–wildlife co-existence and resulting conflicts, poor access to funding and poverty in local communities. The book argues that the links between conservation and livelihoods can be best understood by considering the different approaches to reconciling the demands of conservation and livelihoods that have evolved over the past decades.

Containing contributions from natural and social sciences the book provides guidance for practitioners and policymakers to continue to shape policies and practices that are in line with the key tenets of sustainable development. It will also be of great interest to students and scholars researching Southern Africa, sustainable tourism and conservation.

Table of Contents

Contextualizing and conceptualizing relationships in natural resources, tourism, and community livelihoods: An overview

Naomi N. Moswete, Monkgogi Lenao and Moren T. Stone

Part I Natural Resources Management and Conservation in Southern Africa: History and Trajectories

Historical evolution of conservation and tourism in southern Africa: the case of Botswana

Bongani Glorious Gumbo

Nature Tourism, Wildlife Resources and Community Based Conservation: Case of Malawi

James Malitoni Chilembwe

The Context and Future of Tourism in Africa’s National Parks: Could Privatization within Protected Areas be the Panacea?

Cleopas Njerekai

A review of community social upliftment practices by tourism multinational companies in Botswana

Wame L Hambira

Navigating community conservancies and institutional complexities in Namibia

Paul Hebinck, Richard Dimba Kiaka and Rodgers Lubilo

Fourteen Years of Tourism and Climate Change Research in southern Africa: Lessons on Sustainability under Conditions of Global Change

Gijsbert Hoogendoorn and Jennifer M. Fitchett

Part II Natural Resource-Based Tourism Development and Growth In Southern Africa: Policy Issues, Challenges and Practices

The Analysis of Conflict and Coexistence of Traditional and Contemporary Land Uses

Patricia K. Mogomotsi, Melville Saayman and Andrea Saayman

Local people’s perspectives on wildlife conservation, ecotourism and community livelihoods: A case study of Lusaka National Park

Vincent R. Nyirenda, Castro Milimo and Ngawo Namukonde

Tourism and Poverty Alleviation in the Global South: Emerging Corporate Social Responsibility in the Namibian Nature-based Tourism Industry

Mary Ellen Kimaro and Jarkko Saarinen

Revisiting Devolution in Community-Based Natural Resources Management in Zimbabwe: towards an inclusive governance approaches

Jones Mudimu Muzirambi, Regis Musavengane and Kevin Mearns

Part III Conservation and Tourism Development Debates in Southern Africa: Origins, Narratives and Progress

The Economics and Governance of the Wildlife Economy in Drylands in southern Africa

Brian A. Child

Role of Forest Resources in Local community Livelihoods: Implications for conservation of Chobe Forest Reserve, Botswana

Joyce Lepetu and Hesekia Garekae

An assessment of Supply side factors and Ecotourism in Mauritius

Seetanah Boopen. And Sannassee R.V

Investigating sustainable development goals, livelihoods and tourism development in a rural protected area: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa

Felicite A Fairer-Wessels

Part IV Southern Africa in the World: Cases, and Lessons

Natural Resources, Sustainable Tourism Development and Community Livelihoods Relationships: A comparison between Botswana and the USA

Moren T. Stone , Gyan P. Nyaupane , Dallen Timothy and Lesego S. Stone

Economic Assessment of Tourism based Livelihoods for Sustainable Development: A Case of Handicrafts in Southern and Eastern Africa

Gagoitseope Mmopelwa and Lesego Mackenzie

Comparison evaluation of visitors ‘perception of park characteristics in southern Africa

Brijesh Thapa

Part V Conclusion

Synthesis and conclusions derived from chapter outcomes

Monkgogi Lenao, Naomi Moswete and Moren Stone/