Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-23T09:40:12.427Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Wildlife Utilization and Local People: A Case-study in Upper Lupande Game Management Area, Zambia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2009

Mundanthra Balakrishnan
Affiliation:
Reader, Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Kariyavattom 695581, Trivandrum, Kerala, India; Formerly Visiting Associate Professor and Consultant Ecologist, Norwegian Centre for International Agricultural Development, Agricultural University of Norway, Box 2, N-1432 Ås, Norway
Dora E. Ndhlovu
Affiliation:
WWF/Zambia Wetlands, Private Bag, Mpika, Zambia. Formerly Wildlife Biologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Lusaka, Zambia.

Extract

Wildlife culling is the most preferred form of wildlife utilization in ULGMA. Nevertheless, the frequency of game-meat consumption by local people is low, partly due to the problem of irregular meat sales from the culling scheme and partly due to the low purchasing capability of villagers. LIRDP needs to improve the distribution routine of meat sale at lower prices if the culling scheme is to fulfil its objective of providing game-meat to local people. It is also essential to spread comprehension of the use of benefits from wildlife utilization among the local residents. Any increase in the allocation of the wildlife harvest quota should be considered with caution in order that species are not harvested at a rate beyond their reproductive capacity.

There is resentment against safari hunting, based on the opinion that it gives to foreigners the opportunities to utilize wildlife resources while the local people are forbidden access to them. Appreciation of benefits from safari hunting is minimal, and option for reduction of the off-take allocation quota is strong. Although safari hunting is the most prominent revenue-generating form of utilization, benefits from it are not visible to local communities. Exchange of information between LIRDP and the local communities concerned with the use of revenue from wildlife utilization programmes needs to be reinforced. This would be instrumental not only in minimizing misconceptions about safari hunting, but also in establishing cooperation between LIRDP and local communities. An increase in the number that may be taken of the more numerous species during DGL hunting could well be considered, so as to enable more local people to utilize wildlife resources legally.

Control shooting has a marginal effect in reducing crop damage. Even though electric fencing could be an effective barrier against large animals such as Elephants, it would be better to encourage traditional methods of self-defence. Control shooting is advocated only if and when the problem gets out of hand. Subsistence poaching is widely successful, due to the skills of the practitioners, the use of appropriate traditional technology, and the low operating costs. These features may be considered favourably in wildlife culling operations. Through allocation of a sustainable off-take quota to local hunter cooperatives, their services could be used to provide game-meat to local communities.

Continued confrontation with commercial poachers through regular and more intensive patrols is essential, particularly in vulnerable areas. LIRDP should maximize the services of Village Scouts stationed at Miliyoti and Kauluzi wildlife camps by providing adequate firearms and ammunition for more effective anti-poaching patrols in the game management areas than currently exist. To gain local support, LIRDP may consider an increased wildlife offtake quota for the Malaila Kunda traditional ceremony. This would serve to sustain local culture and would help to develop enthusiasm among local people for due conservation of animal wildlife and other natural resources.

Type
Main Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adeola, M.O. & Decker, E. (1987). Wildlife utilization in rural Nigeria. Pp. 512–21 in Proceedings of the International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Ajayi, S.S. (1971). Wildlife as a source of protein in Nigeria: some priorities for development. Nigerian Field, 36, pp. 115–27.Google Scholar
Anderson, J.L. (1983). Sport hunting in national parks: sacrilege or salvation? Pp. 271–80 in Management of Large Mammals in African Conservation Areas (Ed. Owen-Smith, R.N.). Haum Education Publishers, Pretoria, South Africa: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
ARPT (1988). An Exploratory Survey of Crop Damage by Wildlife in the Luangwa Valley. Unpublished Report to the Department of Agriculture, Chipata, Zambia: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Asibey, E.O.A. (1974). Wildlife as a source of protein south of the Sahara. Biological Conservation, 6, pp. 32–9, tables.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Astle, W.L., Webster, R. & Lawrence, C.J. (1969). Land classification for management planning in Luangwa Valley. J. Appl. Ecol., 6, pp. 143–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Atkinson, S. (1984). Socio-economic aspects of the Lupande Game Management Area. Pp. 49–5? in Proceedings of the Lupande Development Workshop (Eds Dalal-Clayton, D.B. & Lewis, D.M.). Zambian Government Printers, Lusaka, Zambia: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Bell, R.H.V. (1984 a). Traditional uses of wildlife resources in protected areas. Pp. 297316 in Conservation and Wildlife Management in Africa: Proceedings of a US Peace Corps Workshop, Malawi (Eds Bell, R.H.V. & McShane-Caluzi, E.). US Peace Corps, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Bell, R.H.V. (1984 b). Man-animal interface: an assessment of crop damage and wildlife control. Pp. 387416 in Conservation and Wildlife Management in Africa: Proceedings of a US Peace Corps Workshop, Malawi (Eds Bell, R.H.V. & McShane-Caluzi, E.). US Peace Corps, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Bell, R.H.V. (1987). Conservation with a human face: Conflict and reconciliation in African land-use planning. Pp. 79102 in Conservation in Africa: People, Policies and Practices (Eds Anderson, D. & Grove, R.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England, UK: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Beyer, J.L. (1980). Africa. Pp. 538 in World Systems of Traditional Resource Management (Ed. Klee, G.A.). Edward Arnold, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Caldecott, J. (1988). Hunting and Wildlife Management in Sarawak. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland: xx + 150 pp.Google Scholar
Campbell, A. (1980). Some aspects of traditional wildlife utilization in Botswana. Pp. 151–61 in Proceedings of the Fifth Regional Wildlife Conference for Eastern and Central Africa. Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Gaborone, South Africa: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Caughley, G. (1979). What is this thing called carrying capacity? Pp. 28 in North American Elk: Ecology, Behavior and Management (Eds Boyce, M.S. & Hayden-Wing, L.D.). University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Child, G. (1984). Managing wildlife for people in Zimbabwe. Pp. 118–23 in National Parks, Conservation and Development: The Role of Protected Areas in Sustaining Society (Eds McNeely, J.A. & Miller, K.R.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Child, G. (1988). Economic Incentives and Improved Wildlife Conservation in Zimbabwe. Paper presented at Workshop on Economics, IUCN General Assembly, 4–5th February, Costa Rica: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Child, G. & Child, B. (1987). Economic characteristics of the wildlife resource. Pp. 162–75 in Proceedings of the International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Dalal-Clayton, D.B. (1988). Wildlife Working for Sustainable Development. IIED, London, England, UK: 15 pp.Google Scholar
Eltringham, S.K. (1984). Wildlife Resources and Economic Development. John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, USA: xii + 325 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
IUCN (1989). First Review Mission: Luangwa Integrated Resource Development Project. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland: 94 pp.Google Scholar
Jeffrey, S. (1977). New Liberia uses wildlife. Oryx, 14, pp. 168–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lehmkuhl, J.F., Upreti, R.K. & Sharma, U.R. (1988). National parks and local development: Grasses and people in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Environmental Conservation, 15(2), pp. 143–8, 4 figs and 2 tables.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, D.M. (1984). Wildlife resource potentials in Lupande Game Management Area (South). Pp. 6380 in Proceedings of the Lupande Development Workshop (Eds Dalal-Clayton, D.B. & Lewis, D.M.). Zambian Government Printers, Lusaka, Zambia: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Lewis, D.M. & Kaweche, G.B. (1985). The Luangwa Valley of Zambia: Preserving its future by integrated management. Ambio, 14, pp. 362–5.Google Scholar
Lewis, D.M., Kawche, G.B. & Mwenya, A.N. (1987). Wildlife conservation outside protected areas: Lessons from an experiment in Zambia. Pp. 330–59 in Proceedings of the International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
LIRDP (1987). Proposals for the Phase 2 Programme. LIRDP Document No. 4, Chipata, Malawi: xvi + 170 pp.Google Scholar
Lusigi, W.J. (1981). A new approach to wildlife conservation in Kenya. Ambio, 10, pp. 87–92.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, J., MacKinnon, K., Child, G. & Thorsell, J. (1986). Managing Protected Areas in the Tropics. IUCN/UNEP, Gland, Switzerland: xvi + 295 pp.Google Scholar
McNeely, J.A. (1988). Economics and Biological Diversity: Developing and Using Economic Incentives to Conserve Biological Resources. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland: xiv + 236 pp.Google Scholar
McNeely, J.A. & Miller, K.R. (Eds) (1984). National Parks, Conservation and Development: The Role of Protected Areas in Sustaining Society. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, USA: xiii + 825 pp.Google Scholar
McNeely, J.A. & Pitt, D. (Eds) (1985). Culture and Conservation: The Human Dimension in Environmental Planning. Croom Helm Ltd, London, England, UK: xi + 308 pp.Google Scholar
Marks, S.A. (1976). Large Mammals and a Brave People: Subsistence Hunters in Zambia. University of Washington Press, Seattle and London: xx + 254 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Marks, S.A. (1984). The Imperial Lion: Human Dimensions in Wildlife Management in Central Africa. West View Press, Boulder, Colorado, USA: xv + 196 pp.Google Scholar
Martin, G.H.G. (1983). Bushmeat in Nigeria as a natural resource with environmental implications. Environmental Conservation, 10(2), pp. 125–32, 4 figs and 7 tables.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, R.B. (1984). Wildlife utilization. Pp. 219–32 in Conservation and Wildlife Management in Africa: Proceedings of a US Peace Corps Workshop, Malawi (Eds Bell, R.H.V. & McShane-Caluzi, E.). US Peace Corps, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Martin, R.B. (1987). Evolving new institutions (‘Campfire’) and other pilot projects in Zimbabwe. Pp. 381–5 in Proceedings of the International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Mishra, H.R. (1982). Balancing human needs and conservation in Nepal's Royal Chitwan National Park. Ambio, 11, pp. 246–51.Google Scholar
Mordi, A.R. (1989). The future of animal wildlife and its habitat in Botswana. Environmental Conservation, 16(2), pp. 147–56, 4 figs and 2 tables.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mwiinga, J.J.M. (1989). An Evaluation of Local People's Participation in the Luangwa Integrated Resource Development Project and Their Perception of Opportunities Offered. MSc thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, Ås, Norway: viii + 138 pp.Google Scholar
Ndhlovu, D.E. (1990). Management and Utilization of Wildlife in Upper Lupande Game Management Area, Luangwa Valley. MSc thesis. Agricultural University of Norway, Ås, Norway: viii + 148 pp., illustr.Google Scholar
Parker, I.S.C. (1984). Perspectives on wildlife culling or cropping. Pp. 255–78 in Conservation and Wildlife Management in Africa: Proceedings of a US Peace Corps Workshop, Malawi (Eds Bell, R.H.V. & McShane-Caluzi, E.). US Peace Corps, Washington, DC, USA: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Parker, I.S.C. (1987). Game cropping in the Serengeti region. Pp. 641–2 in Proceedings of International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar
Prescott-Allen, R. & Prescott-Allen, C. (1982). What's Wildlife Worth? Earthscan Publications, IIED, London, England, UK: 92 pp.Google Scholar
Ritcher, W. von (1970). Wildlife and rural economy in south western Botswana. Botswana Notes and Records, 2, pp. 8594.Google Scholar
Savory, T. (1987). Game fencing with power fencing to electricity or not. Pp. 696–9 in Proceedings of the International Symposium and Conference on Wildlife Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. IGF/CIC, Harare, Zimbabwe: [not available for checking].Google Scholar