Using participatory mapping and a participatory geographic information system in pastoral land use investigation: Impacts of rangeland policy in Botswana

Abstract

Since the 1980s, the spatial extent of communal grazing lands in Botswana has been diminishing due to rangeland privatisation and fencing associated with animal health policies. Spatial comparisons of pastoral land use transformations are particularly important where accessibility to grazing and water resources remains at the core of sustainable pastoralism policies. Achieving success in pastoral development research requires a sound understanding of traditional pastoralists' information systems, including the nature of local spatial knowledge. This study explores local spatial knowledge through participatory mapping and a Participatory Geographic Information System to understand and analyse pastoralists' grazing patterns, spatial mobility and the impacts of subdivisions and privatisation policies in Botswana's Ngamiland rangelands. The study uses focus group discussions, historical analysis through key informant interviews, and participatory mapping exercises along with community guided transect walks. The resulting maps provide insights into the traditional tenure patterns of land use and the impacts of rangeland policy on traditional livestock spatial mobility and access to grazing lands. Privatisation and rangeland enclosures have resulted in the restricted movement of livestock and overstocking of floodplains and riparian rangelands, with some natural water pans becoming inaccessible to local communities. We conclude that the integration of local spatial knowledge can be used to foster better articulation and understanding of pastoralists' tenures, which are often lacking in communal land administration systems. Such integrated analysis can contribute to sustainable pastoral land management policy toolkits in semi-arid rangeland environments and enable better land tenure and management decision making for sustainable land management.

Pastoralism and Land Tenure Transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Conflicting Policies and Priorities in Ngamiland, Botswana

“…Change in environmental conditions has always influenced pastoral livelihoods in Botswana [2]. Unfavourable ecological conditions and pastoralist's vulnerability have increased since the 1980s due to increased fragmentation of landscapes as a result of rangeland policies [50]. The literature on Botswana's rangeland transformation policies points to a situation where the design and implementation of rangeland policy were based on an insufficient or poor understanding of the problem [50][51][52][53].…”

“…Unfavourable ecological conditions and pastoralist's vulnerability have increased since the 1980s due to increased fragmentation of landscapes as a result of rangeland policies [50]. The literature on Botswana's rangeland transformation policies points to a situation where the design and implementation of rangeland policy were based on an insufficient or poor understanding of the problem [50][51][52][53]. Deficiencies in the data or information on which planning and management decisions were based means the policy assumptions were not supported by concrete scientific evidence.…”

“…The zoning process revealed that many parts of the country which were assumed to have been unutilised actually contained a substantial number of people [55]. Some areas were used by migratory pastoralists during drought years or wet seasons because they had natural water ponds [50,56]. Most of the smallholders, including hunter-gatherers, lost the rights to utilise the land.…”

“…However, no legislation was put in place to enforce this as those allocated ranches continued to enjoy dual grazing rights by keeping their livestock in communal areas and ranches. This led to environmental threats through concentration of livestock in reduced areas [50]. Such problems are not unique to Botswana as 53% of the articles in the systematic review mentioned reduction in communal managed grazing, constriction in livestock mobility and decline in land productivity as of particular challenge in tenure transformation in pastoralists' areas.…”

“…The district's major economic activity is substance pastoralism, with limited arable agriculture on drainage plains [48]. The district was selected for this analysis because previous studies by Basupi et al [50,56] identified the region as characterised by land use competition, conflicts and environmental problems, some of which are attributed to animal health and land tenure transformation policies. The case study provides critical lessons on crucial issues such as the interplay between pastoralists' interests and larger national conservation goals.…”