This column will this week address some of the bottlenecks that have resulted in the CBNRM programme performing poorly over the years. Firstly, for over three decades, the CBNRM programme operated with a weak and Ineffective legal and Institutional Frameworks.
There was no overarching (unifying) legislation (or legislative framework) under which the fragmented pieces of legislations and policies can operate, so that all sectors function in a coordinated fashion in addressing tourism development, environmental management, biodiversity, and conservation objectives in CBNRM development in Botswana. Until July 2025, there was no CBNRM Act in Botswana to focus on community-based tourism activities.
Secondly, the CBNRM programme has operated with a weak capacity and skills Development in tourism development by Community Trust. That is, one of the major bottlenecks for Community Trust is the lack the managerial capacity, entrepreneurial skills, and conservation expertise (in conservation monitoring, for example) to implement CBNRM or tourism projects.
The lack of entrepreneurship and managerial skills in the tourism business as well as the lack of understanding of how the tourism business operates and how it’s managed has led to the lack of re-investing of revenue derived from CBNRM projects hence financial misappropriation and mismanagement is widespread in Community Trusts.
This therefore contributes to deficiencies and the poor performance of Community Trust over the years. In this regard, the CBNRM programme generally does not significantly contribute to poverty alleviation in some villages. The lack of capacity and skill development by communities has made them vulnerable to corruption and bribery by big businesses hence internal conflicts have erupted and become order of the day in most CBOs.
Thirdly, generally, there is a weak and Inadequate CBNRM Institutional and governance structure in most Community Trust. Most Community Trust and villages are characterized by the lack of adequate capacity building and the inability by community members to hold their Boards of Trustees accountable for their decision making and their corrupt practices.
Community Trust are characterized by the lack of capacity within the Boards of Trustees to be able to manage sophisticated modern business organizations effectively. The weak Community Trust as an institution result in the following: i) the weak Joint Venture Partnership between Community Trust and Safari Companies, ii) Lack of effective planning, monitoring, and management, iii) Weak enforcement of legislation/policies by Community Trust etc.
Fourthly, there is inadequate product diversification and development in leased areas especially those involved in wildlife-based tourism. For decades, the CBNRM programme narrowly focused on wildlife resources as the main tourist product and mainly practiced for trophy hunting and photographic tourism. The narrow focus on wildlife as the main tourism product underestimates the potential value of resource management linkages with other natural resources such as veld products and cultural activities. A wildlife economy in CBOs is not realized.
Wildlife economy refers to the economic activities and benefits derived from the sustainable use, management, and conservation of wild animals and their habitats. It includes sectors such as: photo tourism (based on wildlife experiences, such as safaris, birdwatching, wildlife tours), wildlife ranching and farming (breeding and managing wild species for meat, hides, hunting, or live sales), regulated and legal hunting (including trophy hunting, where revenues support conservation and local communities), Non-consumptive use (such as wildlife photography, filming, and scientific research), conservation jobs and services (employment and business opportunities created through wildlife protection and habitat management). The wildlife economy supports biodiversity conservation while generating income, jobs, and development opportunities—especially in rural or biodiversity-rich areas. When managed responsibly, it aligns economic incentives with environmental sustainability.
Next week, I will expand on the bottlenecks in an attempt to provide insights of the seemingly unending troubles within the CBNRM programme in Botswana.
