FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH PROJECT Wildlife Conservation in Zambia: Impacts on Rural Household Welfare

We wish to acknowledge the World Bank and the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) for the use of household survey data. Ms. Betty Msimuko from the Zambia Wildlife Authority provided useful information related to community-based natural resource management and facilitated field site visits in game management areas. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency provided funding support for this research. Research support from the Global Bureau, Office of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Africa Bureau, Office of Sustainable Development at USAID/Washington also made it possible for MSU researchers to contribute to this work. Tourism is one of the most rapidly growing economic sectors in the world, especially in developing countries; growth rates in international tourist arrivals and receipts in these countries are roughly double the world average. In Zambia, the tourism sector has grown steadily in recent years; international tourist arrivals from 1990 to 2005 grew at an average annual rate of 9.7%, and tourism receipts grew at 10.2%, compared to average growth rates for developing countries of 6.6% and 9.9%, respectively. Tourism in Zambia is largely based on the country's stock of natural resources, particularly the system of national parks (NPs) and game management areas (GMAs). GMAs serve as buffer zones between the NPs and rural agricultural land. They were intended to promote sustainable hunting as an alternative to activities not compatible with wildlife protection. The Zambia Wildlife Authority partners with community organizations to share wildlife management responsibilities and revenue from hunting licenses. This approach is an example of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM), with the dual goal of enhancing the welfare of local communities and creating incentives for the protection and conservation of natural resources. The co-management of wildlife resources presents opportunities and threats for communities living in GMAs. Through the CBNRM program, communities receive a share of the revenues generated from hunting licenses and concession fees paid by hunting outfitters. These funds are distributed to Village Action Groups (VAGs), which use the revenue to employ village scouts (who aid in wildlife protection) and for implementation of community development projects (such as the construction of health clinics, schools, water wells, and boreholes). Tourism development also creates opportunities for wage employment and entrepreneurship, in addition to the benefits from increased access to infrastructure and services. However, capturing these benefits depends on various factors, such as the potential for tourism growth, …