Significance and Strengthening Private Sector Engagement in the Management of Public Protected Areas: Experiences from Malawi

Abstract

This paper presents the significance and strategies to strengthen private sector engagement in the management of public protected areas in Malawi. The study emanates from desk reviews of various relevant documents, stakeholder consultations and Malawi national Community Based Natural Resources Management forum discussions. In addition, focus group discussions with selected local communities surrounding conservation areas were conducted. Data analysis was conducted through content analysis and critical discourse analysis. Promotion of environmental education in protected areas, involvement of local communities in managing natural resources, Infrastructure development and conducting research studies on and in protected areas were found to be significant roles of private sector involvement in public protected areas. Unfavorable economic climate, weak regulation enforcement, poor monitoring mechanism of the activities undertaken by concessioners in managing the protected areas and poor dispute settlement mechanisms were seen to be the challenges. Lastly, enabling policy environment, long term tenure security, clear rights and responsibilities and selection of concessionaires by tender were found to be strategies for enhancing private sector participation in managing protected areas. A follow-up study should be conducted quantitatively in order to provide empirical evidence on the role and ways of strengthening private sector participation.