Resource information
This paper provides background information on access to natural resources in Southern Africa. Case studies are used from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, to explore customary rights and de facto access to a wide range of wild resources, in particular those of greatest importance to the rural poor. The paper aims to:provide an overview of the process of policy developmentoutline the impact of policy change on de jure access rights to wild resources by the poorassess policy implementation in practice looking in particular at the apparent divergence between policy vision and achievement on the groundidentify key areas for further research of regional relevanceSummary of de jure rights over land, wildlife and timber resources include:Botswana:land is allocated by land boardscommunities who do gain rights to wildlife do have some limited management responsibilitiestimber is owned by the state, draft policy/legislation provides increased community use rights, but not as far as for wildlife. Community members have subsistence use rights outside state forestsMozambique:land is owned by the state. Local communities may secure their use and benefit rights through demarcationwildlife and forest resources are owned by the state; communities have subsistence use rights but must apply for a permitNamibia:communal land ownership vested in the State, but residents have usufruct rights (right to enjoy property)wildlife and forest resources are controlled by the State, but limited management rights and use rights may be devolved to local populations through conservancies (wildlife)Zimbabwe:the state owns land; local people have usufruct rights in communal landsstate owns wildlife and forest resources. For wildlife, private sector and rural district councils may secure benefits though delegation of appropriate authoritySouth Africa: state owns land in communal areas, however, existing usufruct rights of residents are legally recognised through the Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Actthere is very little wildlife in communal landsDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry has authority and control over forest and woodland resources. In communal areas permission to harvest live wood should be sought from the tribal authorities[Adapted from author]
