Trophy hunting key to conservation
Namibia's environment minister this week defended trophy hunting at a UN reception for heads of state.
Heads of state from around the world this week heard about the key role sustainable trophy hunting plays in Namibia's renowned conservation success story.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta on Wednesday took to the podium at a UN reception to underline the importance of “legal, ethical and sustainable utilisation” of wildlife, where populations are sustainably managed and utilised while conservation goals are kept to benefit.
“There is much confusion and misconception, particularly in the urban industrialised world and thus by most western tourists that visit Namibia, about the role of hunting in conservation,” he told heads of state at the reception.
Shifeta said even biologists and “recognised conservation organisations, see hunting and commercial trading in wildlife products as undermining conservation, or the anathema of conservation.”
The minister was steadfast on his view that the protection of wildlife and the removal of all economic incentives for the use of wildlife products is the only way to promote and achieve good conservation.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
He noted that a recent study showed that if trophy hunting is abolished in Namibia, “there could be a massive reversal in conservation gains in terms of both wildlife populations and land uses.”The study, which simulated a ban of trophy hunting in Namibia, estimated there would be reduction in the number of financially profitable conservancies, from 77% (30 or 39 conservancies) to just 18% if the income from hunting is eliminated.
Shifeta further told delegates that there is more wildlife in the country than “at any time in the past 150 years, with latest estimates putting the national wildlife herd at just over 3 million animals.”
He said the reason for the growth in wildlife numbers is “simple. Wildlife is an economically more attractive, competitive form of land use than conventional farming in our arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid landscapes.”
He stressed that because wildlife has value, land owners and custodians have a vested interest in preserving their herds.
“In Namibia, we are seeing private farmers knocking down their fences to allow wildlife to roam freely. Formerly blocked wildlife corridors are now being re-established and re-opened.” Namibia's strong support of well-managed, ethical wildlife utilisation is “good, and in some cases essential, for the conservation of wildlife, of habitats and of biological diversity.”
Poaching a concern
Nevertheless, despite the successes of sustainable utilisation of wildlife, Namibia is gripped with a poaching crisis, the minister admitted.
The trophy hunting industry suffered a “blow” after restrictions were placed on the industry on the transportation of trophies by airlines, following a cascade of illegal poaching reports.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta on Wednesday took to the podium at a UN reception to underline the importance of “legal, ethical and sustainable utilisation” of wildlife, where populations are sustainably managed and utilised while conservation goals are kept to benefit.
“There is much confusion and misconception, particularly in the urban industrialised world and thus by most western tourists that visit Namibia, about the role of hunting in conservation,” he told heads of state at the reception.
Shifeta said even biologists and “recognised conservation organisations, see hunting and commercial trading in wildlife products as undermining conservation, or the anathema of conservation.”
The minister was steadfast on his view that the protection of wildlife and the removal of all economic incentives for the use of wildlife products is the only way to promote and achieve good conservation.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.
He noted that a recent study showed that if trophy hunting is abolished in Namibia, “there could be a massive reversal in conservation gains in terms of both wildlife populations and land uses.”The study, which simulated a ban of trophy hunting in Namibia, estimated there would be reduction in the number of financially profitable conservancies, from 77% (30 or 39 conservancies) to just 18% if the income from hunting is eliminated.
Shifeta further told delegates that there is more wildlife in the country than “at any time in the past 150 years, with latest estimates putting the national wildlife herd at just over 3 million animals.”
He said the reason for the growth in wildlife numbers is “simple. Wildlife is an economically more attractive, competitive form of land use than conventional farming in our arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid landscapes.”
He stressed that because wildlife has value, land owners and custodians have a vested interest in preserving their herds.
“In Namibia, we are seeing private farmers knocking down their fences to allow wildlife to roam freely. Formerly blocked wildlife corridors are now being re-established and re-opened.” Namibia's strong support of well-managed, ethical wildlife utilisation is “good, and in some cases essential, for the conservation of wildlife, of habitats and of biological diversity.”
Poaching a concern
Nevertheless, despite the successes of sustainable utilisation of wildlife, Namibia is gripped with a poaching crisis, the minister admitted.
The trophy hunting industry suffered a “blow” after restrictions were placed on the industry on the transportation of trophies by airlines, following a cascade of illegal poaching reports.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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