Our budding conservancies
Conservancies and the management plan applied to them in the country have not only contributed to conservation but has made major deposits into the national income.
Community conservation areas now cover almost 20% of the country with 189 230 residents, while it generates more than 5 000 jobs.
This is according to the latest report about the state of conservation in Namibia.
The 2015 State of Communal Conservation in Namibia report says since the beginning of 1990 to the end of 2015 community conservation contributed about N$5.02 billion to Namibia’s net national income.
The report says that community conservation may grow to cover
90 to 100 conservancies and 40 to 50 community forests in the near future, covering 21% of Namibia and well over 50% of all communal land.
“It will embrace up to 15% of all communal area residents and well over 50% of rural communal area’s residents in suitable areas.”
According to the just-released report the total cash income and in-kind benefits generated in conservancies (including the Kyaramacan Association) grew from less than N$1 million in 1998 to more than N$102 million in 2015.
The report says returns from wildlife and other natural resources generated through community conservation have proven to be substantial, including direct income to conservancies from tourism and conservation hunting, jobs created, and other meaningful benefits such as the distribution of venison.
At the end of 2015, there were 82 registered communal conservancies and 32 registered community forests in Namibia, covering 165 182 square kilometres.
This is about 52.9% of all communal land with an estimated 189 230 residents.
An additional 5 620 people are represented by the Kyaramacan Association, which operates in a similar manner to a conservancy, but is located in the multiple use area of Bwabwata National Park.
Of the total 165 182 square kilometres, conservancies manage 162 030 square kilometres, which is 19.66% of the country.
The report says that over the years, returns to conservancies have increased steadily from just over N$500 000 in 1998 to over N$102 million in 2015.
“Although this is an impressive figure, much of the related cash income is required to cover conservancy costs such as game guard salaries, vehicle operation and maintenance and office expenses. Once these have been deducted, there is often little left to provide meaningful benefits to members,” according to the report.
During 2015 community conservation generated about N$102 million in returns for local communities and facilitated 5 116 jobs.
The report says that of the total N$102 million generated tourism generated N$53.6 million while consumptive wildlife use (which includes hunting and live game sales) generated about N$45 million.
Indigenous natural products generated N$1.8 million and miscellaneous (including items such as interest) generated N$1.6 million.
According to the report conservancy residents earned a total cash income of N$46.8 million from enterprise wages, of which N$28 million was from joint-venture tourism, N$12.8 million was from conservancies, N$4.1 million from conservation hunting and N$1.8 million from SMEs.
Conservancy residents earned cash income of N$1 million from indigenous plants and slightly more than N$1 million from crafts.
More than N$8.9 million in cash was distributed to conservancy residents and used to support community projects.
ELLANIE SMIT
This is according to the latest report about the state of conservation in Namibia.
The 2015 State of Communal Conservation in Namibia report says since the beginning of 1990 to the end of 2015 community conservation contributed about N$5.02 billion to Namibia’s net national income.
The report says that community conservation may grow to cover
90 to 100 conservancies and 40 to 50 community forests in the near future, covering 21% of Namibia and well over 50% of all communal land.
“It will embrace up to 15% of all communal area residents and well over 50% of rural communal area’s residents in suitable areas.”
According to the just-released report the total cash income and in-kind benefits generated in conservancies (including the Kyaramacan Association) grew from less than N$1 million in 1998 to more than N$102 million in 2015.
The report says returns from wildlife and other natural resources generated through community conservation have proven to be substantial, including direct income to conservancies from tourism and conservation hunting, jobs created, and other meaningful benefits such as the distribution of venison.
At the end of 2015, there were 82 registered communal conservancies and 32 registered community forests in Namibia, covering 165 182 square kilometres.
This is about 52.9% of all communal land with an estimated 189 230 residents.
An additional 5 620 people are represented by the Kyaramacan Association, which operates in a similar manner to a conservancy, but is located in the multiple use area of Bwabwata National Park.
Of the total 165 182 square kilometres, conservancies manage 162 030 square kilometres, which is 19.66% of the country.
The report says that over the years, returns to conservancies have increased steadily from just over N$500 000 in 1998 to over N$102 million in 2015.
“Although this is an impressive figure, much of the related cash income is required to cover conservancy costs such as game guard salaries, vehicle operation and maintenance and office expenses. Once these have been deducted, there is often little left to provide meaningful benefits to members,” according to the report.
During 2015 community conservation generated about N$102 million in returns for local communities and facilitated 5 116 jobs.
The report says that of the total N$102 million generated tourism generated N$53.6 million while consumptive wildlife use (which includes hunting and live game sales) generated about N$45 million.
Indigenous natural products generated N$1.8 million and miscellaneous (including items such as interest) generated N$1.6 million.
According to the report conservancy residents earned a total cash income of N$46.8 million from enterprise wages, of which N$28 million was from joint-venture tourism, N$12.8 million was from conservancies, N$4.1 million from conservation hunting and N$1.8 million from SMEs.
Conservancy residents earned cash income of N$1 million from indigenous plants and slightly more than N$1 million from crafts.
More than N$8.9 million in cash was distributed to conservancy residents and used to support community projects.
ELLANIE SMIT
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