Implications of Natural Resource Conservation Policies on Local Community Livelihoods (LCL) in the Sengwa Wildlife Area (SWA), Gokwe South District, Zimbabwe

Protected areas (PAs) are managed for sustainable conservation of natural resources. While local adjacent communities are dependent on natural resources, there is limited access to the resources in PAs. Hence, debate on the role of PAs in improving local community’s livelihoods often gives rise to conflicts. Solutions to this debate have been hampered by lack of information on the actual community concerns. To address the challenges, focus group discussions (FGDs) were done to identify local community concerns on the Sengwa Wildlife Area (SWA) resources, establish available park products and find out how PA policies impact livelihoods. Data collection was done by reviewing existing PA policies and through FGDs that were conducted in four villages (Gava, Chitita, Siamwanja and Muchoni) between the 10^th and 27^th April 2021. A total of one hundred (n = 100) participants consisting of thirty-four youths (34%) and sixty-six adult (66%) participated in FGDs. Participants listed firewood, thatching grass, meat and water as key park products, while employment, control of human wildlife conflict (HWC) and social responsibility remain services available that can be offered by SWA management to local communities. Access to these products and services is limited due to PA policy restriction that prevents uncontrolled access by communities. However, participants who took part during FGDs showed positive support of SWA existence and this was independent of gender {Where, X²_(P-Value)=0.943} < {X²_(0.05;3)=7.815}. Community-SWA collaboration in areas of law enforcement and capacity building is necessary, hence we recommend for a framework that seeks to integrate local community livelihood and natural resources conservation in SWA.