Running head: IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED

PROTECTED AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 1

Identification of Suitable Areas to Develop New Settlements in the Highly Conflicted

Protected Areas. A Case Study of Chobe District

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IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 2

Identification of Suitable Areas to Develop New Settlements in the Highly Conflicted

Protected Areas. A Case Study of Chobe District

Introduction

As protected area populations continue to grow, it is concerning that politicians and

conservationists have not yet found a way to find common ground on how to meet the twin

goals of protecting wildlife and maintaining their habitats. There has been an increase in recent

decades in the number of reports that show encroachment on protected areas all around the

world. This pattern holds in both first-world and third-world nations. Humans are exerting a

greater and greater amount of pressure on the environment, which is leading to an increase in

the frequency of this pattern. Despite the importance of these sites for wildlife conservation,

people have been encouraged to consider making these places their permanent homes due to

the ecological services and advantages they provide, especially to the tourist industry. More

people living in protected areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, have altered the ecosystem in

several ways. These include altering the flow regime, fragmenting habitats, and increasing

competition for available habitats due to the proliferation of livestock and the prevalence of

unregulated hunting. One of the main causes of these shifts is the increasing number of people

living in and visiting protected regions. Observers can witness the consequences of these

changes in protected areas; for example, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, where the number of

impala, warthogs, giraffes, and hartebeest is said to have dropped by more than 70 percent

over the previous several decades. However, expanding the amount of land available for
IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 3

settlement ought to inspire endeavors that add to the national economy. It is crucial to employ

a variety of methods to resolve the kinds of arguments that develop if one is interested in

accomplishing the objective of sustainable management of conservation areas. Therefore, the

purpose of this research was to apply an integrated spatial analysis to identify potential sites for

new settlements in the vicinity of a conservation area in the Chobe District of Botswana. To

reduce the frequency of land-use disputes in the area, this was done. The research set out to

look at the matter from a sustainable perspective, while also taking into account the viewpoints

of a wide range of relevant industries. It is crucial to remember that the potential for successful

diversification of activities within the Chobe area is directly related to the feasibility of land

distribution for habitation. This is a very important detail to remember. Because of the need to

fairly divide up property to accommodate a growing population, a systematic methodology is

required when doing so. The efficient distribution of land depends on this. This research used

the ArcGis spatial analyzer to do two things: (1) find out how much different things help keep

land usage peaceful and sustainable, and (2) find out where in the Chobe district people might

live without worrying about violence breaking out. Those two goals have been met. (Kaduyu et

al., 2021)

Background

An increasing number of human settlements next to protected areas is a major factor

contributing to the worldwide reduction in the total area of conservation areas. You may

observe this pattern in every corner of the world. This is a major cause for concern, especially

for nations whose economies depend heavily on revenue from national parks and other

protected regions. Conflicts over land usage often happen near protected areas, and to resolve
IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 4

them successfully, innovative technology is needed. This research used ArcGIS spatial analyst's

weighted overlay analysis to simulate whether or not it would be acceptable to build villages in

the Chobe District, a popular tourist destination in northern Botswana. The decision was made

after carefully considering all of the relevant environmental, social, and economic factors.

Chobe National Park is mostly unsuited for human habitation, and the portions that are are still

of a relatively modest scale. To accommodate the growing population, this report proposes

increasing land development outside the Chobe District. As a result, there would be no way for

any intruders to enter the secure zones. The study's findings suggest that land resource

planning for parks and reserves might benefit from using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Model Builder.

This makes it a valuable tool for studying and identifying ecological, economic, and social

concerns, which makes it a promising field for future study, especially regarding the sustainable

management of protected areas. The residents of protected areas and the surrounding

communities often incur and reap financial advantages from the regions over time. This not

only affects their ability to provide for themselves, but also their day-to-day social interactions,

such as where members of a family choose to live, the frequency and nature of transactions

between members of the same household, and the degree of autonomy each member of the

household enjoys. As a result of the intertwining nature of social, economic, and ecological

systems, numerous conflicts arise when several parties' goals are at odds with one another.

Although the complexity of such interrelationships is not often fully understood, it is essential

to take into consideration the linked nature of these interactions when dealing with land use

concerns. It would appear that disagreement is an inevitable part of regional planning

processes, especially when those processes involve accommodating several community

IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 5

demands that are incompatible with one another but, if handled constructively, could serve as a

driver for the advancement of the community. (Kaduyu et al., 2021)

Statement of the Problem

Globally, the quantity of land set aside for conservation is decreasing for several

reasons, one of the most notable being the growth of human populations into formerly

undeveloped regions bordering protected zones. This is a worrying issue, especially for nations

whose economies depend heavily on their protected regions. The newly developed technology

is crucial for successfully resolving land use issues that emerge near protected areas. This

research used ArcGIS spatial analyst's weighted overlay analysis to simulate whether or not it

would be acceptable to build villages in the Chobe District, a popular tourist destination in

northern Botswana. The decision was made after carefully considering all of the ecological,

social, and economic factors at play. Chobe National Park has a large portion of territory that is

inhospitable to human habitation, and the park's parts that are appropriate for this sort of

utilization are still relatively modest. (Garekae et al., 2020)

Research Aim and Objective

Research Aim

This research used integrated spatial analysis to find new settlement areas near a

conservation area in Botswana's Chobe District. This measure reduced local land use issues. The

study used a sustainable approach and considered the views of several key industries. It's

important to remember that land distribution for habitation is linked to the diversity of Chobe's

businesses. Important. Due to population growth, the land distribution must be intentional.
IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 6

This is crucial for space division. This research used the ArcGis spatial analyzer to discover

peaceful settlements in the Chobe area and determine how much different attributes assist

preserve land usage peaceful and sustainable. Both goals should have been met.

Objective

To accommodate the growing population, this report proposes increasing land

development outside the Chobe District. This would ensure that no one can enter the secure

areas. The study's findings suggest that land resource planning for parks and other protected

areas might benefit from using the ArcGIS spatial analyst model builder. For this reason, it

serves as a valuable tool for studying and identifying ecological, economic, and social concerns,

making it a promising field for future study, especially regarding the sustainable management

of protected areas. (Garekae et al., 2020)

Research Questions

The research questions address the crucial question: how should the study area be

defined? Where will this inquiry occur? How may land usage and conflicts cause issues?

Assessment criteria? How will you evaluate your solution's efficacy? More knowledge can

expand all aims. How do your data-driven assumptions and solution ideas connect to your

problems? After your investigation, what do you think will change, advance, and improve

knowledge? Who will benefit from the study and how do they feel about it? Who will see the

research results earliest and profit most?

IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 7

Justification

Human population increases into formerly undeveloped areas bordering protected

zones are one of the main reasons conservation land is shrinking globally. This is worrisome for

nations whose economies depend on protected zones. Land use concerns near protected areas

require new technologies. ArcGIS spatial analyst's weighted overlay analysis was used to

evaluate whether settlements may be built in northern Botswana's Chobe District, a major

tourist destination. After carefully weighing ecological, social, and economic concerns, the

choice was taken. The study suggests utilizing ArcGIS spatial analyst model builder for park and

protected area land resource planning. It is a useful tool for analyzing and detecting ecological,

economic, and social issues, making it a viable sector for future research, especially in

sustainable protected area management. (Garekae et al., 2020)

Scope

Despite multiple Chobe District studies on land conflicts and wildlife, more research is

needed to simulate the district's complex land resource challenges. Despite several inquiries,

this persists. This analysis must take into account population growth, land consumption, and

the current land-use plan. This study examined how ArcGIS spatial analyzer might identify

acceptable settlement sites for fiercely disputed protected populations. USGS researched

(USGS). (Garekae et al., 2020)

IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 8

References

Kaduyu, I., Yuyi, G., & Kgosiesele, E. (2021). Identification of Areas for Sustainable Settlements

in Highly Conflicted Protected Areas Using ArcGIS Spatial Analyst: A Case of Chobe

District, Botswana. Journal of Sustainable Development, 14(5).

Lepetu, J., Alavalapati, J., & Nair, P. K. (2019). Forest dependency and its implication for

protected areas management: a case study from Kasane Forest Reserve, Botswana.

Stone, M. T., & Nyaupane, G. P. (2019). Ecotourism influence on community needs and the

functions of protected areas: A systems thinking approach. Journal of Ecotourism, 16(3),

222-246.

Garekae, H., Lepetu, J., Thakadu, O. T., Sebina, V., & Tselaesele, N. (2020). Community

perspective on state forest management regime and its implication on forest

sustainability: A case study of Chobe Forest Reserve, Botswana. Journal of Sustainable

Forestry, 39(7), 692-709.

Bollig, M., & Vehrs, H. P. (2020). Abundant herds: accumulation, herd management, and land-

use patterns in a conservation area. Pastoralism, 10(1), 1-15.

Huang, R. M., Van Aarde, R. J., Pimm, S. L., Chase, M. J., & Leggett, K. (2022). Mapping potential

connections A Case of Chobe District, Botswana. Plos one, 17(10), e0275791.

Latiwa, B., & Rutina, L. Distribution patterns of human-wildlife carnivore conflict in the Chobe

Enclave, Northern Botswana.

IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE AREAS TO DEVELOP NEW SETTLEMENTS IN THE HIGHLY CONFLICTED PROTECTED
AREAS. A CASE STUDY OF CHOBE DISTRICT 9

Moswete, N., Thapa, B., & K. Darley, W. (2020). Local communities’ attitudes and support

towards the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in southwest Botswana. Sustainability, 12(4),

1524.

Lori, T. (2022). Use of Phytosociology and Remote Sensing to Classify and Map the Vegetation in

Protected Areas, Botswana. In Protected Area Management-Recent Advances.

IntechOpen.

Lepetu, J., Alavalapati, J., & Nair, P. K. (2019). Forest dependency and its implication for

protected areas management: a case study from Kasane Forest Reserve, Botswana.

Herrero, H. V., Southworth, J., & Bunting, E. (2020). Utilizing multiple lines of evidence to

determine landscape degradation within protected area landscapes: A case study of

Chobe National Park, Botswana. Remote Sensing, 8(8), 623.