Masters Dissertations (ORI)
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1415
Masters dissertations approved by ORI2024-03-28T12:51:48ZTourism development, rural livelihoods and land use conflicts resolution at Tachila Nature Reserve, NED, Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/2400
Tourism development, rural livelihoods and land use conflicts resolution at Tachila Nature Reserve, NED, Botswana
Tafa, Unabo
Land acquisition by the Tati Concession Company in the North East District (NED) of Botswana during Botswana’s colonial period (1885-1966) has created antagonism among the local people.
The company (TC) demarcated land to white settlers and dispossessed the local people thus rendering them landless. TNR is found in the land owned by the TC and absentee landlords. In 2007, the governance structure of TNR was established. TNR is managed by a Board of Trustees (Tachila progress update, November 2012). The TNR project is developed on an area of approximately 81.93 square kilometers of freehold land. Local communities in the NED argue of having been dispossessed of their land during the Botswana’s colonial period.The objective of this study therefore is to assess the role of tourism in achieving rural livelihoods, conservation and land use conflict resolution in the NED using Tachila Nature Reserve (TNR) as a case study.
The study was carried out at Matshelagabedi, Ditladi and Patayamatebele villages. The study is informed by the social exchange theory (SET). The study used a mixed method approach which includes both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The questionnaire was the data collection tool used and techniques such as interviews and focus-group discussions were also used. Primary sources and secondary data sources were also used. Face-to-face interviews with household representatives and TNR stakeholders were conducted. Informal interviews were also conducted with key informants such as village leadership at Ditladi, Patayamatebele, and
Matshelagabedi. Secondary data sources include both published and unpublished materials on tourism development, livelihoods and natural resource management. Results indicate that even though local communities derive insignificant benefits from tourism at TNR, the tourism industry has the potential to contribute to improved rural livelihoods and conflict resolution. Results also indicate that households have negative perceptions towards TNR.This is because local people feel they have been excluded from the established nature reserve management, restricted from access to natural resources where the nature reserve is established, while
subsequently there were no benefits from tourism at TNR. That is, local people do not derive significant benefits from the development of this nature reserve. Results also indicate that there are also no strategies to resolve the land conflict in the NED, hence land use conflicts continue in the area. Lack of strategies to solve land use conflicts result in tension and negative attitudes between TNR and the local people.
In conclusion, these results suggest that, if local communities do not receive benefits from tourism development they are unlikely to support conservation goals. If people do not enjoy and share profits from tourism development, they develop negative attitudes and resistance to such development. If tourism development does not address urgent societal needs such as land use conflicts resolution, local communities find it unimportant to enjoy such a tourism product hence land use conflicts continue. The development of tourism competes with other land uses such as pastoral farming, arable farming, forest product use and can even accelerate land use conflicts with the neighboring communities.
A dissertation submitted to the Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the degree of Masters in Natural Resource Management. Citation: Tafa, U. (2016) Tourism development, rural livelihoods and land use conflicts resolution at Tachila Nature Reserve, NED, Botswana, University of Botswana.
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZAdoption of elephant crop-raiding deterrent innovations by subsistence arable farmers in the Okavango delta, Northern Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1834
Adoption of elephant crop-raiding deterrent innovations by subsistence arable farmers in the Okavango delta, Northern Botswana
Noga, Sekondeko Ronnie
This research study investigated factors influencing adoption of elephant crop-raiding deterrent innovation (ECDIs) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The study was conducted on the eastern Okavango Panhandle region in five rural communities that are riddled with human-elephant conflict and are participating in a pilot project initiated by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) aimed at testing the efficacy of chilli pepper and beehive fence as ECDIs.
The sample comprised a total of 388 randomly selected, subsistence arable farmers from the list of all households in the individual villages, and 12 purposively selected key informants – two
extension agents from the DWNP, and 10 community leaders: that is, five village dikgosi and five village project committee (VPC) chairpersons. The key informants were selected based on the knowledge they possess about the investigated matters, and special positions of responsibility and influence they occupy in their communities or those in which they operate.
The study The study used a structured interview schedule to collect data from the subsistence arable farmers. Individual farmer interviews were complimented by focus group discussions (FGDs) which elicited farmers’ response on the delivery and adoption of ECDIs as well as their perception of chilli pepper and beehive fence as elephant deterrent measures. Key informant interviews and field observations were also used to collect data on factors influencing adoption of ECDIs in eastern Okavango Panhandle region. Rooted in Rogers’ diffusion of innovations theory, the study used a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design. Prior to the main investigation, a reconnaissance survey was carried out with a view to ensuring adequate planning and informed decision-making to guide and improve the main survey efforts. The survey was also conducted to ascertain the extension agency’s claim that it had introduced xi ECDIs to farmers and affirm the adoption of the deterrent innovations. The survey showed that the pilot project meant to test the efficacy of introduced ECDIs was formally launched in 2010 in the study area. Data were generally analysed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and chi-square of independence. Results showed varying levels of innovation uptake among farmers. A significant proportion of A significant proportion of farmers (69%, n = 268) adopted chilli pepper innovation. Only one farmer (0.3%) incorporated beehive fence in their farming practice, with two (0.5%) adopting both the deterrent
innovations. However, a large proportion of famers (30.4%, n = 118) did not adopt any of the ECDIs. Farmers’ income, education, and perceptions, extension agents’ credibility and dissemination strategies were significant predictors of farmers’ ECDIs adoption. Further, the study elicited institutional relations, availability and/or supply equipment of ECDIs, and labour constraints to have contributed significantly to farmers’ adoption decisions of ECDIs. In the end, a more participatory approach that empowers local people to take a prominent role in
decision-making processes regarding human-elephant conflict management seems to be more likely to achieve farmers’ sufficient adoption of ECDIs and reduce crop-raiding. But without genuine institutional support, it will count for nothing. Thus, creating a genuine farmer scientist-extension linkage would facilitate exchange of useful information and bringing about better understanding of the innovations. In doing so, it would help develop an effective and sustainable strategy for promoting any future mitigation measures.
A dissertation submitted to the Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the subject of Natural Resource Management. Citation: Noga, S.R. (2016) Adoption of elephant crop-raiding deterrent innovations by subsistence arable farmers in the Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana, University of Botswana.
2016-09-01T00:00:00ZTranspiration in various riparian woodland species of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
http://hdl.handle.net/10311/1419
Transpiration in various riparian woodland species of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Lubinda, Aobakwe K.
In arid and semi-arid areas, evapotranspiration (ET) by phreatophytes is a principal groundwater sink and a significant component of wetland water budgets. Understanding and accurately quantifying ET is necessary for water resources management, especially under an uncertain climatic future. In the Okavango Delta ET consumes about 96% of the total input, mainly from islands which are fringed by riparian woodlands. ET measurements, however, have historically been difficult to make and hence ET tends to have been calculated as the remainder term from the water balance. Using the compensation heat pulse velocity method, sap flow measurements, which are widely used in ecophysiological field studies, were used in this study to estimate tree transpiration in the distal, mid and upper Delta during low, medium and high water levels. These were related to air temperature, relative humidity and soil moisture and groundwater levels. The relationship between sap flow and tree size was also explored. Transpiration for the whole Delta was estimated from sap flow measurements and ET from groundwater fluctuations.
Sap flow varied between and within species in different seasons because of environmental factors and plant characteristics as seasons changed. High temperatures and low relative humidity led to increases in sap flow. Relationships between sap flow and soil moisture were unclear whilst groundwater significantly responded to sap flow, declining with increased sap flow and increasing when sap flow slowed down. ET from the whole Delta (with riparian woodland covering an area of 1.19E+09 m²) was estimated to be 4.06E+09 L/year from sap flow measurements. This is equivalent to 27% of the total annual input into the Delta. Groundwater fluctuations gave estimates of 8.47E+09 L/year (56%), almost double the sap flow estimates.
A dissertation submitted to the University of Botswana, Okavango Research Institute in accordance with the requirements of the Master of Philosophy in Natural Resource Management
Citation: Lubinda, Aobakwe K. (2014) Transpiration in various riparian woodland species of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, University of Botswana
Supervisor: Dr M. Murray-Hudson
2015-12-08T00:00:00Z