The role of conservancies in sustainable game utilization in communal areas of Namibia

Abstract

Abstract by author:

Communal farmers are beginning to pool their land, financial and human resources and expertise to jointly manage wildlife on their farms in conservancies. The conservancy concept is proposed as the vehicle for devolving rights over wildlife and tourism to rural communities. This conservancy concept will: (1) enable people living in communal areas to share responsibility for wildlife management (2) enable them to benefit financially from wildlife management and tourism (3) foster wildlife-based rural development (4) improve the conservation of wildlife on communal lands as well as give residents a vested economic interest in wildlife conservation and its wise utilization

This will lead to a broadened resource base for sound diversification and developmental strategies and provide a buffer for times of adversity e. g. drought, as well as provide incentives for the development of broader resource management programmes such as communal grazing and water rights