The influence of Chobe national park on people‟s livelihoods and conservation behaviors

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of Chobe National Park on rural development and biodiversity conservation by focusing on the influence the park has on people‟s livelihoods and the subsequent effect on conservation behaviors. Chobe District is biodiversity well-endowed, yet an area where poverty is the order of the day. The natural resource base of Chobe makes the district the second most important tourism area in Botswana after the Okavango Delta. Given the growth and position of tourism as the most important engine of economic growth after diamonds in Botswana, the study sought to determine whether the claimed conservation and tourism benefits are realized at the household level.