Wildlife harvesting guidelines for community-based wildlife management: a southern African perspective

摘要

African wildlife populations and their habitats are dwindling outside of state-protected areas due to escalating human demands on natural resources, while the effective enforcement of conservation legislation is impracticable across most of the continent. A particular conservation crisis is looming in southern Africa, where extensive wildlife areas are rapidly giving way to subsistence agropastoralism. The concept of community-based wildlife management (CBWM) has been embraced by donor agencies as a hopeful solution in areas where adequate wildlife resources persist and agricultural potential is marginal. The conservation value of CBWM depends, however, on communities having specific information to evaluate the sustainable benefits of wildlife in comparison with alternative landuse options. Furthermore, simple but scientifically sound monitoring procedures are required to ensure that the offtake from wildlife populations is kept within sustainable limits. This paper draws together key ecological issues of relevance to CBWM in southern African savannas and identifies topics requiring further attention from ecologists. The aim is to assist conservation and development agencies in providing prompt and appropriate technical support to communities in areas where opportunities for CBWM still exist but could soon be foreclosed.