Sustainable trophy hunting mooted
'Hunting can very well be conservation'
The age-related trophy (ART) measurement system is aimed at creating incentives to hunt old animals past their prime and to discourage the hunting of immature animals altogether.
There are major opportunities for the trophy hunting sector in Namibia if it embraces change such as the age-related trophy (ART) measurement system.
This system aims at creating incentives to hunt old animals past their prime and to discourage the hunting of immature animals altogether.
The president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha), Axel Cramer, said this during a recent presentation at an information day hosted by Wildlife Ranching Namibia.
Ensure sustainability
Cramer said it is more sensible to identify age classes of animals than to work on their actual age in years.
"These age classes are immature, prime and past prime."
He explained that once the stage of prime is reached, the outward growth of horns and tusks largely comes to an end.
"Now the horns and tusks have developed into the weapons they were designed to be."
He said the ART system will therefore target animals past their prime to ensure the genetic sustainability of trophy hunting.
"This is to show that hunting can very well be conservation, to provide a tool within a management plan towards non-detriment or even enhancement findings for important authorities, and to enhance the trophies by way of ageing animals."
Growing sector
According to Cramer, trophy hunting accounts for about 3% of tourists to Namibia but 20% of tourism revenue.
Elaborating on the economic situation of the country, he said that Namibia has a small, open economy that is heavily dependent on trade sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism and fishing.
He said that despite the recession, the fragile state of the economy, and the severe drought in 2019, tourism numbers and earnings have continued rising.
Cramer pointed out that tourism is an important sector for Namibia, with estimations from the industry indicating that 110 000 people earn their primary income from tourism.
He noted that the wildlife sector is economically more diverse than the livestock sector, adding value beyond pure meat production.
"Service-based industries have a much greater potential for growth and employment creation compared to pure agriculture production."
Advantages
Cramer further said mixed cattle-wildlife farms employ double the number of people compared to cattle-only farms.
He said that Namibia’s competitive advantage is, among other things, that 48% of Namibian land is currently under some form of conservation management, which is the biggest in the world.
He added that the sustainable use of natural resources is embedded in the constitution.
"The hunting and tourism experience cannot be replaced by technology."
The country also has good infrastructure, a secure tourism experience, and people speak a variety of languages, Cramer underlined.
This system aims at creating incentives to hunt old animals past their prime and to discourage the hunting of immature animals altogether.
The president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha), Axel Cramer, said this during a recent presentation at an information day hosted by Wildlife Ranching Namibia.
Ensure sustainability
Cramer said it is more sensible to identify age classes of animals than to work on their actual age in years.
"These age classes are immature, prime and past prime."
He explained that once the stage of prime is reached, the outward growth of horns and tusks largely comes to an end.
"Now the horns and tusks have developed into the weapons they were designed to be."
He said the ART system will therefore target animals past their prime to ensure the genetic sustainability of trophy hunting.
"This is to show that hunting can very well be conservation, to provide a tool within a management plan towards non-detriment or even enhancement findings for important authorities, and to enhance the trophies by way of ageing animals."
Growing sector
According to Cramer, trophy hunting accounts for about 3% of tourists to Namibia but 20% of tourism revenue.
Elaborating on the economic situation of the country, he said that Namibia has a small, open economy that is heavily dependent on trade sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism and fishing.
He said that despite the recession, the fragile state of the economy, and the severe drought in 2019, tourism numbers and earnings have continued rising.
Cramer pointed out that tourism is an important sector for Namibia, with estimations from the industry indicating that 110 000 people earn their primary income from tourism.
He noted that the wildlife sector is economically more diverse than the livestock sector, adding value beyond pure meat production.
"Service-based industries have a much greater potential for growth and employment creation compared to pure agriculture production."
Advantages
Cramer further said mixed cattle-wildlife farms employ double the number of people compared to cattle-only farms.
He said that Namibia’s competitive advantage is, among other things, that 48% of Namibian land is currently under some form of conservation management, which is the biggest in the world.
He added that the sustainable use of natural resources is embedded in the constitution.
"The hunting and tourism experience cannot be replaced by technology."
The country also has good infrastructure, a secure tourism experience, and people speak a variety of languages, Cramer underlined.
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