IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Barnes, J.I. | |
| Economic returns and allocation of resources in the wildlife sector of Botswana | |
| 2001 South African Journal of Wildlife Research (31): 141-153 | |
Wildlife utilization in Botswana was studied to find out (1) whether it generates positive contributions to national income, and (2) which combinations of uses can generate most income. Financial and economic models of different land uses were combined in linear programming and cost-benefit analyses. Results show that the wildlife resource in Botswana can contribute positively to national income, and this justifies government investment in the sector. The sector is economically efficient, and contributes to Botswana's economic development. Wildlife uses need to be fully developed in ways that maximize their economic contributions. Non-consumptive tourism on high-quality wildlife land will give the greatest economic returns, and should get priority. Safari hunting, community-based wildlife use (where viable), and limited intensive ostrich and crocodile production should also be given priority for investment. Other uses should get lower priority, but all should be developed. On about a third of wildlife land, wildlife uses have a clear economic advantage over livestock uses. The remaining two thirds of wildlife land has poor capacity to generate use value. Here, commercial livestock ranching is not an economic threat, but traditional livestock keeping is. A ban on consumptive wildlife uses in Botswana would significantly exacerbate this threat. |
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