Community-based natural resource management success
Correspondent | Friday March 28, 2014 14:57
The contract is supported by USAID’s Southern Africa Regional Environment Programme (SAREP) and Resilience in the Limpopo Basin Programme (ResiLim), and facilitated by the Kalahari Conservation Society. The aim of the contract is to build the capacity of Kgetsi ya Tsie to provide an ongoing supply of marula oil to international cosmetic companies.
Trust Coordinator, Masego Mmipi, had tears in her eyes as Kalahari Conservation Society Programmes Officer, Onkametse Joseph, declared that their request for support and the subsequent funding proposal submitted by KCS had been successful.
“Goodbye poverty!” she said as soon as she heard the news.
But Mmipi turned quickly to business as Joseph outlined the requirements and activities.
“It’s an intense period - three months - but the justification is to make mass production happen with the support of Kalahari Conservation Society so then Kgetsi ya Tsie will be able to continue on its own once it’s over,” Joseph said.
Mmipi said the 26 villages involved in the community organisation were ready.
“I am the happiest woman in the Tswapong area today. It is marula season and we have the equipment. Our lives will improve so much,” she said.
Community based natural resource management (CBNRM) projects like this aim to promote opportunities for communities to derive economic advantages from natural resources so that they will sustainably protect them.