TITLE:
Local People’s Knowledge and Perceptions of Wildlife Conservation in Southeastern Zimbabwe
AUTHORS:
Edson Gandiwa, Patience Zisadza-Gandiwa, Never Muboko, Elias Libombo, Clayton Mashapa, Rachel Gwazani
KEYWORDS:
Community, Gonarezhou National Park, Knowledge, Perception, Protected Area
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.5 No.6,
May
12,
2014
ABSTRACT: This study aimed
at examining local people’s knowledge and perceptions of wildlife conservation
in southeastern Zimbabwe. Data were collected between
October and November in 2012 using a purposive sampling approach of households
(n = 114) in communities
adjacent to Gonarezhou National Park. Our results show that local people were
aware of the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources
(CAMPFIRE) and Gonarezhou, and their associated purposes. However, our results
suggest that local people had inadequate knowledge about the Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) and its purpose. Moreover, mixed perceptions about the impact of the
GLTFCA on local livelihoods and conservation in the study area were recorded.
Finally, the results indicated that improving park-community relationships,
education and awareness programmes on natural resources conservation could
assist in raising the status of conservation in Gonarezhou and GLTFCA.