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- Convenors:
-
Eduard Gargallo
(ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
Joana Roque de Pinho (ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de LIsboa)
Mara Goldman (University of Colorado at Boulder Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL))
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- Format:
- Panel
- Sessions:
- Wednesday 27 October, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
This panel will analyse the impact of the Covid-19-related collapse of international tourism on community conservation programs in drylands worldwide, focusing on socioeconomic effects, land-use changes, impacts on wildlife, examples of local resilience and the exploration of alternative futures
Long Abstract:
Since the 1990s a diversity of so-called Community Conservation (CC) programmes have been implemented in dryland areas worldwide. Such programmes claim They are supposed to empower local communities to manage wildlife and forests, as well as to increase the revenue accruing to these populations from conservation-related economic activities. In some cases, Indigenous Peoples have been involved in such schemes. Most of these programmes have been based on the premise that tourism would provide income and jobs to be distributed among local community members and that this, in turn, would increase tolerance towards wildlife and support for wildlife conservation; they are often implemented through tourism business joint ventures between communities and private companies. One of the main effects of Covid-19 and its preventive measures, though, has been an almost total collapse of international tourist visits, leading to a sharp fall in income to companies, governments and communities. This panel wishes to analyse how the crisis in the tourism sector has impacted dryland rural populations that have become strongly involved in conservation. We are especially (but not exclusively) interested in issues such as: the socioeconomic impact of declining revenues and employment on local populations, the effects on wildlife (increasing Human-Wildlife Conflict, poaching), religious and spiritual views of the pandemic and nature-society relations, and possible changes in land use in and adjacent to conservation areas. We are also looking for examples of resilience within communities and for the possible creation of openings to explore and enact alternative conservation futures for post-Covid-19 drylands.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Wednesday 27 October, 2021, -Paper short abstract:
With preliminary data collaboratively collected since the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic around the Maasai Mara National Reserve, in Kenya, we explore the (possibly) unique set of ecological, social and economic circumstances that underlie what looks like a local revival of pastoralism.
Paper long abstract:
Like elsewhere, tourism in Kenya was abruptly brought to a halt in March 2020 by the globally spreading SARS-CoV-2 and the measures to contain it. With this, the tourism and wildlife conservation cash flow to rural communities located around protected areas also stopped. Around the Maasai Mara National Reserve (MMNR), Maasai pastoralists, who could no longer rely on income from tour operations and community-based conservation initiatives, were also confronted with harshly enforced restrictions on their mobility, sociality and economic activity. Yet, the past year has seen livestock production and trading booming, and Maasai culture flourishing. With preliminary data collected since the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, we explore this apparent paradox and the (possibly) unique set of ecological, social and economic circumstances that underlie what looks like a local revival of pastoralism. As lodges and conservancies are preparing to receive their first visitors since March 2020, our presentation looks at one year without tourism and conservation-imposed restrictions in the life of one Maasai family on the outskirts of the MMNR. With Maasai elders smiling and feeling vindicated in their preference for cattle over other livelihood strategies, we reflect on the social-ecological processes initiated by the pandemic containment measures, the time-tested resilience of Maasai pastoralism to disasters, and Maasai aspirations for the post-pandemic coexistence of people, cattle and wildlife.
Paper short abstract:
The Covid-19 pandemic was problematic for the Maasai Mara conservancy. During January - May 2021, stakeholders were interviewed giving insights into how the model Maasai Mara conservancy potentially increase local preparedness for external shocks and also develop domestic tourism.
Paper long abstract:
The Maasai Mara conservancy model is an alternative to state-managed national parks, with a combination of conservancies, partner organisations and companies and local stakeholders. What makes the model different is the status of landowners as local partners - with linked and direct payments from tourism revenues. However, the Covid-19 pandemic suspended the international tourism on which the conservancies rely. The unfolding situation also brought to the fore debates about equity, sharing and responsibilities of different actors. In a series of conversations during January - May 2021, stakeholders were interviewed to understand how the Covid-19 crisis impacted activities in the Maasai Mara conservancies. Some already existing problems were emphasised by the impact of the pandemic, while new ideas about income generation emerged locally. Landowners experimented with additional activities relating to their cattle, and conservancies looked inwards, targeting domestic tourism. The most prominent theme arising from these conversations was that of equity - between tourism partners and landowners, relating to the rights of women and to the place of Maasai youth in the future of the model. The colonial legacy of wildlife conservation also created discussions around the exclusion of local tourists and the underlying biases that may exist. The study gives some insights into how the model Maasai Mara conservancy potentially increase local preparedness for external shocks and also develop domestic tourism.
Paper short abstract:
This study used interviews to assess the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 on tourism and and wildlife conservation in Anabeb and Sesfontein Communal Conservancies in Namibia. The findings of the study reveal that reduced tourists arrivals negatively impacted the local communities in various ways.
Paper long abstract:
In Namibia, the government introduced the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme in the 1990s. The CBNRM programme resulted in the formation of Communal Conservancies (CCs) among local communities in most rural areas in Namibia. Through the CCs, local communities are granted rights over wildlife and other natural resources. The CCs are aimed at promoting socio-economic development of local communities through wildlife conservation-related economic activities. The CCs are also based on the premise that tourism would provide income and jobs to local community members and this would increase their tolerance towards wildlife and support for wildlife conservation. Namibia’s Communal Conservancies programme has been depicted as one of the most successful in Africa and is often implemented through tourism which depended on international tourists. One of the main effects of COVID-19 and its preventive measures has been an almost total collapse of international tourist visits to Namibia. Using interviews, this study assessed the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 on local communities and wildlife conservation programmes in Anabeb and Sesfontein Communal Conservancies in Namibia. The findings of the study reveal that the local communities suffered various negative socio-economic impacts on their livelihoods as a result of Covid-19. The Covid-19 also negatively affected wildlife conservation programmes. Although Covid-19 is most likely to continue presenting changing dynamics as time goes, conclusions can be drawn that reduction in tourism-generated income affected most people who depend on tourism. Serious interventions are required in order to save local communities’ livelihoods and wildlife conservations programmes.
Paper short abstract:
This paper explores the trials and tribulations of community-based conservation in the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in northern Tanzania. Throughout its history, the WMA has introduced many conflicts, disappointments and precarity. Like fuel on fire, COVID has exacerbated all of this.
Paper long abstract:
With its abundance of iconic wildlife, the dryland region of Enduimet has been a destination for the world’s trophy hunters and photography enthusiasts, throughout Tanzania’s history. Starting in the early 2000s, the area was reconstituted as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) – a new model of community-based conservation (CBC). Like so many other rural communities in Tanzania, the indigenous community of Enduimet accepted the WMA amidst bold promises of tourism riches and renewed authority over its territory. Sadly, such promises have not been realized. Since its inception, the WMA has been rife with conflict and ongoing risks of displacement. It has led to a precarious existence for Enduimet’s indigenous peoples. Big international non-governmental organizations (BINGOs) loom large in all of this, as do big tourism businesses. This paper will explore how COVID has impacted the politics of CBC in Enduimet. Enduimet’s tourism revenue, which it relies on for managing the conservation area, has been decimated since the onset of the pandemic, leading to a host of direct and indirect impacts: staff have been laid off, anti-poaching teams reduced, governing structures and institutions compromised, power has been consolidated, community grievances have grown, and donor NGOs have found new opportunities to influence trajectories. Much of this is not new, but COVID has exacerbated ongoing adverse dynamics and polarizations. As one WMA leader aptly put it, “it’s like fuel on fire”. Nevertheless, despite some ominous developments, most recently, the effects of COVID have also seemingly influenced a further commitment to indigenous sovereignty.
Paper short abstract:
ǂKhomani Bushmen survive from tourism, which was closed due to Covid. Initiatives were introduced to relieve the socioeconomic impact. This paper explores how Covid affected the ǂKhomani, if initiatives alleviated hardship and benefited those in need, and how initiatives affected community dynamics.
Paper long abstract:
Since a successful land claim in 1999/2000, many of the Indigenous ǂKhomani Bushmen of the southern Kalahari, South Africa, have struggled to survive given the scarcity of livelihood opportunities in this desert environment. With the involvement of government and NGOs, wildlife conservation, and wildlife and cultural tourism, have been encouraged, with it being purported that such industries will provide earning and employment opportunities. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the benefits of these industries were meagre. Once Covid arrived, a national hard lockdown was introduced. Travel restrictions were implemented with provincial/ provincial borders closed. The hospitality and tourism industry was also closed down. At this time, many ǂKhomani involved in tourism were affected; some sought new livelihood strategies such as chopping down trees to sell wood. This had a detrimental effect on the environment so was stopped - once again the individuals had no income. As the country gradually re-opened, travel and tourism continued to be negatively affected intermittently. In response, government, NGOs and private individuals introduced initiatives to relieve the socioeconomic impact of the lockdown. Some aimed to support people in need, in general, while others sought to benefit tourism businesses and individuals working in the industry. This paper explores how Covid and the subsequent lockdown, affected the ǂKhomani. It also considers if the aforementioned initiatives alleviated the resulting socioeconomic hardships and the extent to which the programmes benefited those in need. It then contemplates the somewhat unexpected effect that the initiatives had on community dynamics, as underlying tensions surfaced.