Conservancies earned N$39 million in 2022

Income generated by conservancies over the past five years amounted to more than N$143.7 million.Last year alone, it was more than N$39.4 million.Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta confirmed these numbers in response to questions raised in the National Assembly regarding conservancies as well as tourism and trophy hunting concessions.There are currently 86 conservancies and two associations registered and gazetted in Namibia. The expenditure of the conservancies over the five-year period amounted to more than N$96.3 million, while the benefits to the conservancies totalled N$40 million.Communities benefit Shifeta said conservancies are granted rights to utilise natural resources to generate funds to improve livelihoods for communities and also to deal with issues related to human-wildlife conflict.He said in the case of the utilisation of resources within the boundaries of the conservancies, the proceeds go directly to the conservancies’ coffers.“Government does not benefit financially from that at all.”He noted that not all conservancies are at the same level. “Some are doing well, and some are struggling.”The ministry at all times assists conservancies to improve governance and their income, he added. “The conservancies have benefit distribution plans that stipulate how their benefits will be distributed.”Policies and investments Shifeta further explained that the ministry, through the national policy on tourism and wildlife conservation on state land, awards concessions to conservancies and also private legal land entities.In line with the policy and the law, the minister can directly award concessions to the communities living in or neighbouring parks.He said concessions awarded to private entities are awarded through a competitive tender process.“Recognising that in most cases, communities have no funds or capacity to successfully operationalise their concessions, the ministry assists communities in procuring investors through a competitive tender process.”Shifeta stressed that concessions are not gazetted, as that is not a legal requirement, but added that any interested party can get information on concessions from the ministry.He said most concessions owned by communities are implemented by private investors through what is called a concession operator contract.OversightThe ministry conducts annual audits of conservancies.Shifeta said compliance of the conservancies with their constitutions and benefit distribution plans is monitored throughout.“Together with the conservancies, we conduct annual game counts. The conservancies are also equipped with a monitoring system called the event book monitoring system to monitor wildlife.”

Conservancies earned N$39 million in 2022

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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Conservancies earned N$39 million in 2022

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-25

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