Helen Suich

Nationality:

Qualifications:

PhD programme:

Environmental Management and Development

Supervisor(s) and panel members:

Luca Tacconi, The Crawford School of Economics and Government , ANU.

Topic title and description:

Poverty alleviation and community based natural resource management in southern Africa.
Community based natural resource management (CBNRM) is an approach to managing renewable natural resources that takes into account human and ecological factors. In southern Africa, CBNRM programmes are implemented on communally held land and typically focus on wildlife, which is said to be the resource with the greatest potential for the highest financial returns that can be realised quickly – primarily through hunting and photographic tourism. CBNRM programmes in each country in the region have evolved slightly differently according to local political and economic influences, though the general objectives of all of the programmes are the conservation of biodiversity (or at least the sustainable management and use of natural resources) and rural development. Though programmes have been running in several countries for more than a decade, their ability to achieve these two goals is not certain. This research proposes to examine the impact of CBNRM programmes on household poverty in three countries in southern Africa, and the factors affecting the success of these programmes in achieving rural poverty alleviation.

Publications:

• Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) (2008) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.

• Bothma, J. du P., Suich, H. with Spenceley, A. (2008) ‘Game ranching in South Africa.’ In Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.

• Whande, W. and Suich, H. (2008) ‘Transfrontier conservation initiatives in southern Africa – observations from the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area.’ In Suich, H., Child, B. with Spenceley, A. (eds.) Evolution and innovation in wildlife conservation: From parks and game ranches to transfrontier conservation areas. London: Earthscan.

• Suich, H. (2008) ‘Tourism in the transfrontier conservation areas: the Kavango–Zambezi transfrontier conservation area.’ In Spenceley, A (ed.) Tourism, communities and environment in southern Africa. London: Earthscan.

• Odendaal, F.J., Suich, H. and Rojas-Velasquez, C. (2007) Richtersveld. The land and its people. Cape Town: Struik.

• Suich, H. with Kennedy, E., Bruner, A., Pilgrim, J., and Vynne, S. (2005) ‘Transfrontier conservation areas: Conservation and socio-economic impact indicators.’ In Pansky, Diane (ed.) Governance Stream of the Vth World Parks Congress. Ottawa, Canada: Parks Canada and IUCN/WCPA. (Also available www.tbpa.net)

• Suich, H. (2003) ‘Summary of partial results from the socio-economic household survey regarding CBNRM and livelihoods in Caprivi and Kunene.’ WILD Project Working Paper No.12. Windhoek: Ministry of Environment and Tourism/WILD.

• Murphy, C. and Suich, H. (2003) ‘Mashi Craft Market: Craft and livelihoods in Caprivi.’ Research Discussion Paper No.57. Windhoek: Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

• Mulonga, S., Suich, H and Murphy, C. (2003) ‘Human wildlife conflict in Caprivi: The conflict continues.’ Research Discussion Paper No.59. Windhoek: Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

• Suich, H. (2002) ‘Development of preliminary Tourism Satellite Accounts for Namibia.’ Development Southern Africa. Vol.19, No.1.

• Suich, H. and Murphy, C. (2002) ‘Crafty women: The livelihood impact of craft income in Caprivi.’ Research Discussion Paper No.48. Windhoek: Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

• Krug, W., Suich, H. and Haimbodi, N. (2002) ‘Protected area pricing and economic efficiency in Namibia.’ Research Discussion Paper No.45. Windhoek: Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

• Poonyth, D., Barnes, J.I., Suich, H. and Monamati, M. (2002) ‘Satellite and resource accounting as tools for tourism planning in southern Africa.’ Development Southern Africa. Vol.19, No.1.

Employment history:

Mailing address:

EMD Programme, The Crawford School of Economics and Government
JG Crawford Building, Building #13, Ellery Crescent, The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 0200, Australia