Trophy hunting vital for conservation

Namibia and Southern African countries recognise the critical role that trophy hunting plays in conservation, sustainable development and ecosystem-level conservation.Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said this at the eleventh Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), taking place in Windhoek from 10 to 16 December.Shifeta emphasised that, when properly managed and regulated, trophy hunting provides vital economic incentives that empower local communities and private landowners to act as stewards of their natural resources.The minister underlined that Namibia has demonstrated how trophy hunting in collaboration with community-based conservation models can significantly contribute to protecting the country&#039;s unique biodiversity and ecosystems.Moreover, the revenue generated from this practice directly benefits rural communities, funding vital infrastructure such as schools, healthcare facilities and water systems.“It is for this reason that we refer to trophy hunting and other forms of hunting as conservation hunting.”Thrive together The minister underlined that by assigning a value to wildlife, conservation hunting has incentivised habitat protection and wildlife monitoring. This approach reduces human-wildlife conflict and ensures the sustainable management of key species.“Namibia’s communal conservancies are a testament to what can be achieved when people and nature thrive together. Let us recognise that sustainable-use conservation models, like ours, are a powerful tool in achieving global biodiversity goals while addressing the socio-economic needs of rural communities," he said. Poaching undermines conservationMeanwhile, poaching remains one of the most urgent threats to biodiversity, not only in the region but across the globe.“It is a crisis that has devastating consequences for our ecosystems, our communities, and our shared future," the minister noted. The illegal killing and trade of wildlife species undermine years of conservation efforts, drive species to the brink of extinction, and lead to the loss of invaluable ecological services, Shifeta said. He added that poaching also has far-reaching economic and environmental consequences.“It erodes the potential of our tourism industry, which relies heavily on the presence of iconic wildlife, and it harms local communities that benefit from sustainable resource management.”Poaching also impedes the ability to meet global biodiversity targets and hinders efforts to protect the planet’s natural heritage for future generations, he added.

Trophy hunting vital for conservation

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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Trophy hunting vital for conservation

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-19

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