Shifeta warns conservancies against fund misuse
Grave concern over community complaints
At least 50% of the total annual income generated by conservancies or community forests must be allocated toward implementing community development projects.
Conservancies that misuse or mismanage funding face being deregistered or having their financial support withdrawn, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has warned.
The minister expressed grave concern over numerous complaints received from community members, who cited a lack of benefits being derived from tourism concessions and hunting activities.
The minister stressed that at least 50% of the total annual income generated by conservancies or community forests must be allocated toward implementing community development projects.
Further, it is vital to manage conservancy and community forest finances properly, he said.
“We have received numerous complaints and allegations of blatant theft and misappropriation of conservancy funds.
“I, therefore, inform you that as a ministry we can put restrictions on banking accounts or withdraw certain financial support to conservancy and community forests that misuse or mismanage funds.
“If need be, the ministry can withdraw the registration of a conservancy or community forest, as provided for in the applicable legislation.”
Shifeta said that the ministry takes compliance issues seriously and financial support can be withdrawn if key requirements are not met.
Assess and review
“It is the strong desire of the ministry to see all communal conservancies and community forests being financially sustainable. The ministry is aware that conservancies and community forests rely on hunting, tourism and other natural resources for
income, which was severely affected by Covid-19. However, I still urge that the members receive benefits,” he said.
The minister was speaking at the conservancies and community chairperson forum for the northwest and central regions of Namibia, held in Otjiwarongo.
The meeting provided a dedicated platform to review and assess the achievements, challenges and opportunities faced by communal conservancies and forests.
Shifeta said that there will be no successful and sustainable wildlife conservation without the involvement of the local communities, as well as an incentives mechanism to offset the cost of living of such wildlife.
A success story
Namibia’s community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) project is a unique programme that provides rural communities with incentives to manage their natural resources and further unlock enormous tourism development opportunities and benefits from the use of wildlife.
There are now 86 registered communal conservancies, 43 community forests and two community associations in Namibia.
Shifeta said that restrictions on gatherings due to Covid-19 made it difficult and, in some cases, impossible for many communal conservancies and forests to meet their governance standards over the past two years.
“We are nonetheless pleased to note that despite the pandemic some conservancies and community forests were able to hold their annual general meetings, either prior to the lockdowns or after restrictions were lifted.”
According to Shifeta, others realigned themselves to the health regulations and opted to hold smaller gatherings to engage their members.
The minister expressed grave concern over numerous complaints received from community members, who cited a lack of benefits being derived from tourism concessions and hunting activities.
The minister stressed that at least 50% of the total annual income generated by conservancies or community forests must be allocated toward implementing community development projects.
Further, it is vital to manage conservancy and community forest finances properly, he said.
“We have received numerous complaints and allegations of blatant theft and misappropriation of conservancy funds.
“I, therefore, inform you that as a ministry we can put restrictions on banking accounts or withdraw certain financial support to conservancy and community forests that misuse or mismanage funds.
“If need be, the ministry can withdraw the registration of a conservancy or community forest, as provided for in the applicable legislation.”
Shifeta said that the ministry takes compliance issues seriously and financial support can be withdrawn if key requirements are not met.
Assess and review
“It is the strong desire of the ministry to see all communal conservancies and community forests being financially sustainable. The ministry is aware that conservancies and community forests rely on hunting, tourism and other natural resources for
income, which was severely affected by Covid-19. However, I still urge that the members receive benefits,” he said.
The minister was speaking at the conservancies and community chairperson forum for the northwest and central regions of Namibia, held in Otjiwarongo.
The meeting provided a dedicated platform to review and assess the achievements, challenges and opportunities faced by communal conservancies and forests.
Shifeta said that there will be no successful and sustainable wildlife conservation without the involvement of the local communities, as well as an incentives mechanism to offset the cost of living of such wildlife.
A success story
Namibia’s community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) project is a unique programme that provides rural communities with incentives to manage their natural resources and further unlock enormous tourism development opportunities and benefits from the use of wildlife.
There are now 86 registered communal conservancies, 43 community forests and two community associations in Namibia.
Shifeta said that restrictions on gatherings due to Covid-19 made it difficult and, in some cases, impossible for many communal conservancies and forests to meet their governance standards over the past two years.
“We are nonetheless pleased to note that despite the pandemic some conservancies and community forests were able to hold their annual general meetings, either prior to the lockdowns or after restrictions were lifted.”
According to Shifeta, others realigned themselves to the health regulations and opted to hold smaller gatherings to engage their members.
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