Community participation and Community Based Wildlife Resource Management in Mumbwa Game Management Area in Zambia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Community participation and Community Based Wildlife Resource Management in Mumbwa Game Management Area in Zambia

Inonge Milupi D.*, Kaiko Mubita, Pauline Namakau Monde, Steriah M. Simooya, Juliet Namukoko, Mwenya Tembo, Wiza C. Nakombe and Fortune Mufana
The University of Zambia, School of Education, Department of Language and Social Sciences Education, Environmental Education Section, P.O BOX 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of community participation in natural resource management in Mumbwa Game Management Area of Zambia. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through interviews and surveys in the case-study area. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics. The study found that local community participation in wildlife resource management was passive in the study area. This was because the Department of National Parks and Wildlife was not actively engaging the local community in decision-making process of wildlife resource management in the area. The study recommends that the is active participation of the community in managing wildlife resources in the study area would ensure the sustainability of natural resources and hence promote an effective Community Based Natural Resource programme in Mumbwa Game Management area.

Keywords: CBNRM, community managing, participation, GMAs, wildlife resources

I. INTRODUCTION

Several scholars (Milupi et al., 2017; Milupi et al 2020; Pimbert and Pretty 1994; Mashinya 2007, Murphree 2004, Nelson 2008 and Luyet 2012) have recognized that community participation in natural resource management is an important mechanism to ensure sustainability of natural resources. Ostrom’s design principle for common pool resources also recognises the importance of active participation of resource users in managing their resources as an ingredient to sustainable utilization of natural resources. The Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) approach has received much support in the past years because of its dual objective of achieving both biodiversity conservation and social economic objective (Kellert et al. 2000 and Gibbes, 2010) The approach became more popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s (Songorwa, 1999) when it became obvious that governments in most African countries were excluding local communities from becoming involved in the management of their natural resources. The result of excluding local communities from becoming involved in the management of their natural resources, led to a degradation and unsustainable use of natural resources (Ayoo, 2007).

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