Can the restrictive harvest period policy conserve mopane worms in southern Africa? A bioeconomic modelling approach

This paper uses a bioeconomic modelling approach to show that for some optimal allocation of the mopane forest stock, the restrictive harvest period policy advocated by community leaders may not lead to sustainable harvesting of the worm.

The mopane worm, which is the caterpillar form of the Saturnid moth Imbrasia belina Westwood, is – like other edible insects and caterpillars – a vital source of protein in southern African countries. The worms live and graze on mopane trees, which have alternative uses. With increasing commercialization of the worm, its management, which was hitherto organized as a common property resource, has been degraded to almost open access.

EfD Authors

Associate Professor Edwin Muchapondwa Research Fellow
PhD Wisdom Akpalu Research associate

Keywords

Park management

Centers

south africa

Type of publication

Peer reviewed

Reference

Akpalu, W., Muchapondwa, E. and P. Zikhali (2009). "Can the restrictive harvest period policy conserve mopane worms in Southern Africa? A bio-economic modeling approach". Environment and Development Economics, Volume 14, No. 5, pp 587-600.

Environment for Development

Environment for Development