Support for San conservancies

ELLANIE SMITWINDHOEKThrough support from the tourism ministry and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Nyae Nyae and N#a Jaqna conservancies will be able to maintain their basic functions of protecting wildlife and providing benefits to their communities.According to a statement issued by the Nyae Nyae Development Foundation, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Namibia's economy is considerable.“However, the impact on many poor rural communities, in particular communal conservancies in 2020, could be even greater. Especially in the Nyae Nyae and N#a Jaqna conservancies where the San communities reside.”The foundation said these communities are almost completely dependent on tourism and trophy hunting for their income.“This income generated benefits them in terms of jobs, wildlife management, livelihood projects and cash. There are very little prospects for generating income from these sources in 2020. This may threaten the very fabric of the conservancies as people lose their only sources of income and possibly their jobs.” Surviving off tourismAccording to the foundation, conservancies are built and survive by generating benefits from tourism and wildlife management.It added that community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) rangers in both conservancies play a vital role in wildlife and natural resource management.A lack of income to conservancies could mean that the salaries of rangers cannot be paid, and as a result, they are unable to carry out their important work. Therefore, the challenge for conservancies and their support organisations is how to maintain these critical services. Donor community to the rescueFortunately, the donor community has recognised the importance of the role CBNRM rangers play.The Nyae Nyae and N#a Jaqna conservancies have received an IUCN Save Our Species grant, funded by the European Union.The grant focuses on “securing the livelihoods of wildlife rangers and for indigenous San conservancies in Namibia” over the next 12 months. It will also pay the salaries of the CBNRM rangers so that their critical wildlife patrols and monitoring the harvesting of organic devil's claw can continue.The foundation said the harvesting and sale of devil's claw represents a significant source of income for conservancy members and is one of the few income sources to survive the impact of the coronavirus. Sale of devil's clawDuring the first purchasing event in August, approximately 230 harvesters earned N$500 000 from the sale of devil's claw in Nyae Nyae. A second purchasing event, planned for October, could potentially earn harvesters anything from N$750 000 to N$1 million.Although the conservancy only generates a small management fee from the sale, the income is critical for members to enable the purchase of essential items such as food.

Support for San conservancies

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-06

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Support for San conservancies

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-06

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