CBNRM empowers rural communities

Community conservation in Namibia has had a significant impact on the lives of rural Namibians over the past two decades, enabling them to participate in democratic processes, gain rights to manage their natural resources, and increase income and benefits for both communities and individuals.This is according to the State of Community Conservation Report 2023.The report, which was recently released, states that the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Programme has expanded from its initial four conservancies in 1998 to 86 conservancies and three resident associations in 2023.Additionally, 47 community forests and 20 fisheries reserves have been established as new governance and management structures, further supporting community rights over natural resources and promoting additional benefits.“Community conservation efforts have significantly grown and changed, as they seek to address and adapt to the needs of both the environment and communities in Namibia," the report states. Over the years, the programme has achieved successes and encountered challenges, which has led to a deeper understanding of the complexities of community conservation.The objective of CBNRM is to foster resilience and generate benefits for communities living with wildlife, while also managing their natural resources sustainably.“While the recovery of tourism in 2023, post-Covid-19, is a positive development for Namibia and community conservation, the impact of the pandemic has underscored an even greater necessity to diversify income sources and livelihoods within conservancies," the report highlights. Innovation and progress In 2023, new projects sought to address alternative livelihoods with innovative methods and to establish the socio-economic development fund (SEDF) to provide multiple funding mechanisms for communities to support the development of nature-based enterprises, according to the report.In addition to the need for diversification, the environmental and social repercussions of climate change continued to impact local communities and natural resources throughout Namibia.“This has been particularly evident in the northwest, which has faced drought conditions for over nine years, leading to significant losses in both livestock and wildlife, and increasing human-wildlife conflict.”The report stresses that although residents of community conservation areas have the power to manage their natural resources and make their own decisions, they do not operate in isolation.“Effective CBNRM relies on multiple layers of institutional support.”The environment and tourism ministry provides overall guidance and maintains standards, while the Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO) members offer extensive technical and logistical assistance.Furthermore, private sector conservancy partners play a crucial role in connecting international markets with local communities to generate income and create jobs.

CBNRM empowers rural communities

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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CBNRM empowers rural communities

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-01

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