Wildlife and poverty study: phase one report

Report aimed at producucing recommendations to DFID on an appropriate strategy for interventions which link rural livelihoods to wildlife and common natural resources. The report assesses the key linkages and underlying policy and institutional issues, investigates the synergies and trade-offs between donor strategies and, from this recommends appropriate further action for the next phase.Six project case studies of varying lengths are used to make this assessment. Each examines differing approaches to engaging with communities using wildlife based approaches and looks at what lessons can be learned and the implications that these lessons might have on future DFID policy. The projects studies (included as annexes) are as follows:The Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Project in Kunene, NamibiaThe Mbomipa project in TanzaniaThe Amboró Rural Development Pilot Project, BoliviaThe Mount Cameroon ProjectThe Madikwe Initiative for community wildlife managementSustainable Resource Use and Biodiversity Conservation in the Northern Areas of PakistanAt a global level the report identifies two emerging issues that will influence future strategy. These are:The increasing appropriation of the economic benefits of wildlife by corporations and governments at the expense of the rural poor.The continuing and increasing overexploitation of wildlife resources.The paper concludes that there is sufficient evidence that wildlife-poverty linkages exist and that DFID is well placed to continue to support poverty based wildlife development projects. It recommends four themes to be explored in phase two:‘Community wildlife management’ for rural development: using wildlife links as an entry point for broader rural development in marginal areas Addressing the threat to the poor from declining bushmeat: minimising the threat to food securityPromoting pro-poor wildlife tourismPro-poor engagement with the conservation lobby