Environmental policy and administrative management

The project aims at rehabilitating and sustainably utilizing Tsaro lodge as a vehicle for community involvement in eco-tourism. Tsaro lodge is an ideal asset that offers the community a chance to further consolidate its involvement in photographic tourism activities. The tourism venture will provide an opportunity for hands-on, acquisition of the much needed prerequisite skills in the tourism industry, income and benefiting from the spin-off activities. The Khwai Development Trust (KDT) of Khwai is amongst the first CBOs to embrace nad adopt the community based natural resources management (CBNRM) programme. The Khwai settlement has a small population numbering slightly over 100 households based on the year 2000 population census. In terms of economic activity, there are few job opportunities for members of the community. Although there are about three tourist lodges in the area, very few individuals within the community have the requisite qualifications and skills to get any employment at these establishments. As a result the majority of people in Khwai are dependent on governmnet handouts, seasonal labour intensive jobs and on household divedends from KDT for sustenaince. Tsaro lodge was handed over to the Khwai community by government a couple of years ago when its lease of ownership by a local safari company expired. However, it took a legal battle to get the safari company to move off the property. This reluctant move led to the lodge structure being vanderlised. The community therefore inheritated a property that was in bad shape, hence this project.

Botswana