Linking tourism to conservation and community development in Malawi

Protected areas have become one of the most widely accepted conservation methods around the world, by restricting the use of identified resources. Tourism contributes widely towards the costs of managing protected areas. However, experience in Malawi shows that while tourism can generate significant revenues, this does not always benefit local communities directly.

The Integrated Conservation and Development (ICD) approach builds on the protected area approach by linking conservation and tourism development and by involving the people living in or near protected areas. Research from the University of Brighton in the UK uses a case study from Malawi to examine the impact of this approach.

Liwonde National Park (LNP) is one of Malawi’s smaller parks, high in biodiversity and popular among tourists. However, local communities forced to relocate outside the park still experience conflicts with park authorities regarding ‘problem animals’, such as elephants, which destroy their crops and pose a life threat to community members.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DPNW) aims to make Liwonde an example of ‘best practice’ for protecting the biodiversity of Malawi, whilst ensuring its sustainability through tourist revenues. However, the researchers found:

• While tourism has brought in revenue, the park only retains enough to cover operating costs, with the rest going to the government.
• Tourism employs 77 people in park lodges and a few small local enterprises. Besides this, there is little local economic impact from tourism.
• Local people resent the lack of employment opportunities, which they consider necessary since they can no longer rely on natural resources from the park.

While tourism has supported conservation, it has not brought much development locally. The DNPW is looking at ways to generate more benefits and reduce poaching. However, the authors highlight that:

• Revenues must be shared fairly, encouraging entrepreneurial development and discouraging poaching. The DNPW has been granted permission to split total park revenues between the LNP and the local communities, but nothing has happened so far.
• Village Natural Resource Management Committees have been formed, but the lack of empowerment and human resource development among park officials and  local people undermines the involvement of key individuals.
• Further research should assess community attitudes, particularly after the implementation of the scheme to share tourism revenues.

Source(s):
‘Tourism in Protected Areas: Integrating Conservation and Community Development in Liwonde National Park (Malawi)’, Tourism and Hospitality Planning & Development, 4, 1, pages 47-73, by Marina Novelli and Amy Scarth, 2007

id21 Research Highlight: 12 October 2007

Further Information:
Marina Novelli
Centre for Tourism Policy Studies (CENTOPS)
University of Brighton, Darley Road
BN20 7UR, Eastbourne
UK

Tel: +44 (0)1273 643667
Fax: + 44 (0) 1273 643949
Contact the contributor: mn19@bton.ac.uk

University of Brighton, UK

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