How cheeky cheetahs and clever biomass solutions go paw-in-paw
CCF turns bush into benefit
From small-scale conservation to a proudly Namibian innovation with national impact.
Ellanie Smit
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) isn’t just protecting the world’s fastest cat, it’s also leading Namibia’s charge in innovative biomass solutions. Now recognised as a national hub for biomass research and development, CCF is turning ecological challenges into real-world solutions.
But while poaching tends to grab headlines, CCF says one of the biggest threats to wild cheetahs is something far less dramatic: Habitat loss. “Especially in Namibia’s arid landscapes, habitat degradation quietly shrinks the open spaces cheetahs need to hunt, roam, and survive,” the foundation explains.
Over the past century, climate change, overgrazing, and the decline of large herbivores like elephants and rhinos have allowed thorny bushes to take over the savannah. This widespread phenomenon, called bush encroachment, has choked around 45 million hectares of rangeland, turning open grasslands into impenetrable thickets. The result? Less grazing land, less water, and more displaced wildlife.
And when cheetahs lose space, they end up closer to livestock and people, increasing conflict and even fuelling the illegal wildlife trade.
Turning problems into power
Over the last two decades, CCF has worked to flip this threat on its head. Through strategic bush thinning, it’s been able to restore natural habitats while improving rangeland for local farmers. In 2001, this approach sparked something brilliant: Bushblok - a clean-burning biomass fuel made from invasive thorn bush.
Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Bushblok is not only better for the environment than traditional firewood, it also boosts rural jobs and restores the open landscapes cheetahs depend on.
Now, Bushblok has had a bit of a makeover. Its new packaging and logo reflect how far it’s come: From a small-scale conservation product to a proudly Namibian innovation with national impact.
To make Bushblok even more accessible, CCF recently launched Bushblok Offcuts, made from irregular pieces left over during production. Same quality, lower price, giving households and small businesses a sustainable energy option that doesn’t break the bank.
Digital innovation meets conservationIn 2025, CCF took its work a step further. Partnering with the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), Germany’s Bioenergy Association (BBE), and Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, it piloted a Digital Biomass Quantification system. The project, based on CCF’s Otjiwarongo reserve, is modernising how Namibia maps and manages its rangelands.
CCF’s Bushblok initiative is now inspiring similar efforts abroad. It’s proof that clever science, community collaboration, and a dash of environmental creativity can turn thorny problems into thriving ecosystems and give Namibia’s cheetahs a fighting chance.
This is a win for wildlife, a boost for local jobs, and a cleaner, greener future for all.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) isn’t just protecting the world’s fastest cat, it’s also leading Namibia’s charge in innovative biomass solutions. Now recognised as a national hub for biomass research and development, CCF is turning ecological challenges into real-world solutions.
But while poaching tends to grab headlines, CCF says one of the biggest threats to wild cheetahs is something far less dramatic: Habitat loss. “Especially in Namibia’s arid landscapes, habitat degradation quietly shrinks the open spaces cheetahs need to hunt, roam, and survive,” the foundation explains.
Over the past century, climate change, overgrazing, and the decline of large herbivores like elephants and rhinos have allowed thorny bushes to take over the savannah. This widespread phenomenon, called bush encroachment, has choked around 45 million hectares of rangeland, turning open grasslands into impenetrable thickets. The result? Less grazing land, less water, and more displaced wildlife.
And when cheetahs lose space, they end up closer to livestock and people, increasing conflict and even fuelling the illegal wildlife trade.
Turning problems into power
Over the last two decades, CCF has worked to flip this threat on its head. Through strategic bush thinning, it’s been able to restore natural habitats while improving rangeland for local farmers. In 2001, this approach sparked something brilliant: Bushblok - a clean-burning biomass fuel made from invasive thorn bush.
Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, Bushblok is not only better for the environment than traditional firewood, it also boosts rural jobs and restores the open landscapes cheetahs depend on.
Now, Bushblok has had a bit of a makeover. Its new packaging and logo reflect how far it’s come: From a small-scale conservation product to a proudly Namibian innovation with national impact.
To make Bushblok even more accessible, CCF recently launched Bushblok Offcuts, made from irregular pieces left over during production. Same quality, lower price, giving households and small businesses a sustainable energy option that doesn’t break the bank.
Digital innovation meets conservationIn 2025, CCF took its work a step further. Partnering with the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), Germany’s Bioenergy Association (BBE), and Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, it piloted a Digital Biomass Quantification system. The project, based on CCF’s Otjiwarongo reserve, is modernising how Namibia maps and manages its rangelands.
CCF’s Bushblok initiative is now inspiring similar efforts abroad. It’s proof that clever science, community collaboration, and a dash of environmental creativity can turn thorny problems into thriving ecosystems and give Namibia’s cheetahs a fighting chance.
This is a win for wildlife, a boost for local jobs, and a cleaner, greener future for all.
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