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Abstract:
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"In this paper political ecology refers to the historical process whereby different hierarchical levels of interest at global, national, provincial and local level determine the management of ecological resources. The political ecology of the Okavango delta analyses these critical political and economic interests as they directly affect the use and management of wetland and wildlife resources. The term 'political ecologies of scale' refers to the attempt to establish mutually beneficial arrangements between internally differentiated organizational levels. In simple language, it is hoped to establish win/win situations involving governments, local communities, private sector and NGOs that nurture the wise use of local resources. This paper attempts to illustrate how social differentiation (vertical and horizontal dimensions of social scale), historically competing land use strategies (the time scale and property rights) and geographical scales may collide with or reinforce each other.
"In more ways than one the Okavango Delta is like the canary in the environmental mineshaft for Southern and Central Africa. The ecological health of the Delta is an indicator of global climate change and global environmental stress because of its regional significance as a sensitive drainage area. The management of unique wetlands such as the Okavango Delta is determined by the competing de facto and de jure claims on water and on water dependent natural resources. The claims can be viewed as International, National; District and local assertions of access, ownership, proprietorship and use rights over both land and water. These claims pose a common property resource management dilemma because the competing claims have to be negotiated socio-politically. Understanding the competing claims and property rights, the levels of management and decision making involved as well as the institutions responsible for decision making and enforcement of claims is a critical but often neglected step in management planning. Because of the complexity of the claims the paper argues that the Okavango Delta is best managed by a joint jurisdiction regime involving multiple stakeholders at local, district, national and international levels. Key institutions dealing with the co-management of resources in the delta are identified as possible models for future institution building. Recent development of community based natural resource management (wildlife) forums at district and national level are analysed.
"Some of the key risks involved in this type of wildlife management institution building include the danger that one or more stakeholders may manipulate the process to achieve their own special interests. Another risk is that stakeholders without legislative authority may become sleeping partners, and that stakeholders may increasingly distrust each other rather than co-operate together. Numerous stakeholders with divergent interests may create a political impasse of scale. There is therefore no blue print on how to create the desired outcome of joint management for wise use, but the paper argues that the costs of not attempting joint management are greater than the costs of trying."
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