Wildlife conservation is often compromised when the locals’ livelihoods are threatened, hence the need to balance biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods. Negative attitudes toward wildlife often promote retaliatory killings of wild animals that undermine sustainability. Consequently, there is a need to understand the attitudes of communities in proximity to wildlife and to explore their responses to wildlife conservation. In Botswana where human-wildlife conflicts have been increasing, the promotion of wildlife conservation and the reduction of human-wildlife conflict incidents is important as the country’s economy relies on income derived from wildlife resources. The failure to conserve wildlife poses a threat to the country’ economy and natural resources. This is because the country’s tourism industry relies heavily on wildlife, especially in northern Botswana.
Contemporary conservation models view local communities as possible collaborators and partners in the conservation and sustainable development of wildlife. Until people who must coexist with wildlife can benefit proportionately with the costs incurred, they will not be willing to conserve wild flora and fauna. The sustainable-use approach hypothesises that local community user rights encourage natural resource conservation. This is consistent with institutional economics where community rights over natural resources encourage sustainable use. Incorporating local people and promoting their involvement ensures conservation goals. Despite the benefits of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programs, threats posed by wildlife to property and human life may lead to negative attitudes toward wildlife and nullify all benefits.
