Uneven governance in a shared conservation landscape: wildlife tourism and community resilience in a Transfrontier Conservation Area
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/bgss-2026-0028Keywords
information sharing, tourism decision making, wildlife tourism & community resilience, Southern AfricaAbstract
This study investigates the resilience of communities located near prominent wildlife tourism destinations within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. The study is grounded on social capital and emphasizes its importance, coupled with that of information flows, in shaping community engagement in wildlife tourism and conservation planning and decision-making processes. Drawing on interviews with stakeholders from the tourism, conservation and community sectors in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the findings highlight the critical role of social networks in determining the frequency, channels and accessibility of communication related to environmental planning. Additionally, the study reveals significant localized disparities in state-level governance arrangements, particularly concerning which voices are recognized and integrated into decision-making processes. It stresses the need to acknowledge and incorporate indigenous and traditional knowledge systems and governance structures in both information dissemination and participatory decision-making. ...
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