usaid/nambia environmental threats and opportunities assessment

Focus in the northwest should be on formalizing links between Etosha and the Skeleton Coast Park via
the Kunene conservancies (Figure 18). This could be facilitated by expanding conservation areas and
removing fences to provide “safe corridors” to facilitate repopulation of former home ranges and
reintroduction of certain species. In the northeast (which incorporates the Bwabwata, Mamili, Mudumu
and Mahango National Parks, Khaudum Game Park, the Mangetti Game Camp, and Waterberg Plateau
Park ) the key focus should be on establishing new conservancies ( turning the conservation “patchwork”
into a “network”) to provide protection for the eastern floodplains in Caprivi, as well as improving
ecological linkages within the transfrontier conservation area.
By improving the connectivity of current PAs ecological functioning will be enhanced and landscape
level corridors will be developed – corridors that will help to meet the challenge of the biomal shifts that
are expected as a result of climate change.
RECOMMENDATION: BUILD ON THE EXISTING CBNRM PROGRAM
a) Weaknesses in the current CBNRM program must be addressed. Efforts to improve governance and
capacity include:
The development of entrepreneurship and managerial skills.
Ensuring that management and decision-making structures are as representative as possible. Subcommittees
(each representing a particular village, area, or interest group) are one possible
strategy. Election of key leaders by the whole constituency, and not just by the management
committee or board, is preferable.
Harmonizing/integrating the management of resources wherever possible by improving
communication between all relevant local level structures e.g. community forest committees,
water point committees, farmers’ associations, and traditional authorities.
Helping communities to have more influence in land use planning and project-level decisionmaking
processes (e.g. pertaining to irrigation projects, development of dams, aquaculture
projects, etc.).
Develop opportunities to showcase (“market”) CBNRM and wildlife-based industries to relevant
ministries including the MLR, MAWF, and MET so that there is greater appreciation at a high
political level of the value of CBNRM, conservancies, and community forests. Lobby GRN to
recognize and support freehold conservancies (currently neither recognized nor supported).
Strengthen community-based forestry by raising awareness on and developing appropriate
procedures for realizing the true value and sustainability aspects of timber harvesting (especially
in Caprivi and Kavango). Currently, wood is sold at very low prices and there is inadequate
control over tree harvesting both on the outskirts of towns and settlements and in the rural
areas.
Develop community-based inland fisheries. The GRN should be lobbied to revise inland
fisheries legislation so that:
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o
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Fish can be managed by conservancies.
Regulations take cognizance of the different types (and sizes) of fish in the various rivers
associated floodplains – current clauses prevent optimum utilization of fish resources.
Local community control over commercial exploitation of fish stocks can be effectively
regulated.
78 USAID/NAMIBIA ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSESSMENT