N$96m wildlife conflict, crime project launched
A six-year human-wildlife conflict and wildlife crime project, costing an estimated N$96 million, has been launched.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said under this project, there is a plan to develop a low grant facility, which will support communities to develop enterprises that will help them benefit from wildlife.
“I am deeply convinced that this opportunity will bring comfort to those who have only seen the negative side of wildlife and not the positive side yet – hoping that it will contribute to a change of attitudes towards wildlife and eventually reduce human-wildlife incidences.”
Shifeta explained that the project aims to incentivise wildlife conservation through proactive management of human-wildlife conflicts and wildlife crimes while concurrently delivering wildlife-based benefits to rural communities in targeted hotspot landscapes.
These landscapes include north central Namibia (incorporating the Etosha National Park); the north west (or Kunene), and the north east (incorporating the Bwabwata-Mudumu National Park complex and falling partially within the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area).
Distress and poverty
According to the minister, human-wildlife conflict is mostly experienced by communities and farmers living with wildlife, and this hits them really hard - to the point of leaving them in distress and poverty.
“Many people who have experienced the pain of livestock loss or damage caused by wildlife end up feeling hopeless and do not see the benefit of continuing to live with these animals. However, it is almost impossible to separate the two as they will, in one way or another, always live together or close to each other.”
He added that human-wildlife conflict is mostly the result of human encroachment on wildlife corridors or habitats, which exposes livestock, human lives and property to predation, loss and damage.
“Wild animals also move into communal and commercial areas in search of drinking water and livestock to prey on, especially when prey numbers decline.”
In 2021, a total of 590 human-wildlife conflict cases was reported, which included 10 people who were killed in wildlife attacks.
In retaliation, humans resort to killing the wild animals, Shifeta said, adding that this not only exacerbates the loss of biodiversity, but also negatively affects the economy as some killed species are highly valuable and contribute to tourism and to the economy.
Training
The project will make provision for training related to addressing wildlife crime as well as the provision of equipment for law enforcement officials and intelligence.
Training will also be provided to the investigation unit to develop frameworks for addressing wildlife crime, and will invest in the monitoring of the movements of rhinos and elephants.
The implementation of the project is the responsibility of the environment ministry, while its total budget is co-financed by the Global Environmental Facility.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said under this project, there is a plan to develop a low grant facility, which will support communities to develop enterprises that will help them benefit from wildlife.
“I am deeply convinced that this opportunity will bring comfort to those who have only seen the negative side of wildlife and not the positive side yet – hoping that it will contribute to a change of attitudes towards wildlife and eventually reduce human-wildlife incidences.”
Shifeta explained that the project aims to incentivise wildlife conservation through proactive management of human-wildlife conflicts and wildlife crimes while concurrently delivering wildlife-based benefits to rural communities in targeted hotspot landscapes.
These landscapes include north central Namibia (incorporating the Etosha National Park); the north west (or Kunene), and the north east (incorporating the Bwabwata-Mudumu National Park complex and falling partially within the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area).
Distress and poverty
According to the minister, human-wildlife conflict is mostly experienced by communities and farmers living with wildlife, and this hits them really hard - to the point of leaving them in distress and poverty.
“Many people who have experienced the pain of livestock loss or damage caused by wildlife end up feeling hopeless and do not see the benefit of continuing to live with these animals. However, it is almost impossible to separate the two as they will, in one way or another, always live together or close to each other.”
He added that human-wildlife conflict is mostly the result of human encroachment on wildlife corridors or habitats, which exposes livestock, human lives and property to predation, loss and damage.
“Wild animals also move into communal and commercial areas in search of drinking water and livestock to prey on, especially when prey numbers decline.”
In 2021, a total of 590 human-wildlife conflict cases was reported, which included 10 people who were killed in wildlife attacks.
In retaliation, humans resort to killing the wild animals, Shifeta said, adding that this not only exacerbates the loss of biodiversity, but also negatively affects the economy as some killed species are highly valuable and contribute to tourism and to the economy.
Training
The project will make provision for training related to addressing wildlife crime as well as the provision of equipment for law enforcement officials and intelligence.
Training will also be provided to the investigation unit to develop frameworks for addressing wildlife crime, and will invest in the monitoring of the movements of rhinos and elephants.
The implementation of the project is the responsibility of the environment ministry, while its total budget is co-financed by the Global Environmental Facility.
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