namibia’s seals
Communal conservancies is a concept which was kick-started in Namibia over 20 years ago. Namibia is the only country in the world with an expanding population of free-roaming lion. In the Kunene Region alone these predators have increased from a virtually unsustainable population of 20 in 1995 to an estimated 130 today. Nature reserves such as the Etosha National Park have become havens for hundreds of lions. Humans and wildlife co-existing together All these successes are linked directly to Namibia’s innovative policy on the sustainable use of natural resources and focus on involving citizens from grass-roots level up to officials in the highest echelons of Government. Forty-two per cent of Namibia’s surface area is now under some form of conservation management, and this is set to increase. The policy of conservation that benefits the people has infiltrated to the most remote communities, and even transformed some of them into profit-driven business sectors.
conservancies, including income from employment, in-kind benefits and cash, totalled more than N$195 million. Most of the cash income is generated through the sustainable use of wildlife, including the hunting of charismatic animals such as elephants and large carnivores. These cash payments have been essential to allowing conservancies to employ their own conservation staff, cover conservancy operating costs, and contribute to rural development activities – thus creating strong incentives for communities to live with wildlife. Outcry against seal culling in Namibia Despite this remarkable track record, the emotional outcry of some animal-rights groups against the annual seal harvest along Namibia’s coast is becoming increasingly vocal. Namibia’s outstanding conservation record aside, the harvesting of seal pups and adult bulls has long aroused deep emotions.
Communal conservancies, a concept kick-started in Namibia over 20 years ago, have grown from four in 1998 to close to 80 this year. Communities now have a direct say in what happens on their land. In addition to the conservation gains this programme has unleashed, the financial benefits have lifted thousands of people out of poverty and hardship.
The outcry originates primarily from a group of people unfamiliar with Namibia’s conservation record and the country’s remarkable wildlife recovery. And while there is enough scientific evidence to back Government’s stance that the seal harvest does not affect population numbers negatively, for many the concept of sustainable utilisation is eroded by the sight of a young pup being culled by a blow with a club to the back of its head, arousing severe outbursts of emotion instead.
In 2009, community-based natural-resource management generated over N$45 million in income to rural Namibians. Between 1998 and 2010, total benefits to communal
Following recommendations from the report of the Ombudsman John Walters encouraging the disclosure of scientific data, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has availed
TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA SUMMER 2012/3
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