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National Workshop on Human Wildlife Conflict Management 2005 Fisheries and Agriculture and gave the example of a citrus farm developed along a key migratory route along the Kwando River. Dixon Lusipane (Kwando Conservancy) asked if studies had been completed on commercial farming areas. Barnes replied that models were specific to enterprises and he had not done any work on impacts of predators on commercial models specific to Caprivi, for example on the flood plains. 26
National Workshop on Human Wildlife Conflict Management 2005 3 HWC realities in the field 3.1 Crop damage in Caprivi James Lizazi – Malengalenga Conservancy At the 2001 meeting, groups were given homework to compare the problem of HWC with the real situation on the ground. We Caprivians took up the problem of HWC and held consultations with stakeholders from throughout the region, including traditional authorities (TAs), conservancies, MET and all other stakeholders. We found that since conservancies have been established and are moving forward, people have knowledge about how to protect wildlife, but the numbers of problem animals have also increased. We asked ourselves questions such as: What problems were we were facing and with what species, was it with lions, elephants or hyenas Then we discussed animals’ movements through the Caprivi corridor to and from Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Elephants are moving from both sides in both directions, especially in times of drought and are destroying crops. We looked at how to solve the problem and at how to protect them. We then decided to approach the problem in another way. We thought that if farmers could be insured, they could receive some form of compensation when their property or crops were destroyed. We felt this would reduce the problem. Researchers say that compensation was given in some places such as Botswana and that was very meaningful. This needs to be revisited, because in Katima Mulilo, as a bread-basket, when we ploughed last year and there was no damage we knew we could supply other regions with food. Some workers are trying to go back to the land, farmers are increasing in numbers and so are animals. People are living on the land, and battle especially in drought years when rivers are down and elephant numbers increase. These animals tend to go for watermelons and pumpkins. We thought about how to handle this situation, as it was a big challenge. So we went to the TAs and the conservancies. People said they wanted to enjoy our natural resources other than through killing. No-one we spoke with wanted to kill animals, even through they are destructive. Communities came out with questions about the types of problems experienced and the frequency of problems. The main problem between farmers and the MET involves damage to crops. We came with more questions. After crops were destroyed, what happens to communities This is where poverty and the influence of poaching come in. We had questions to the MET Minister about how to protect our farms as elephants destroy crop fields on an almost weekly basis, and the MET takes a long time to react to problems. And this is where poaching comes in. Poachers are very clever. They know if they shoot an elephant in the head it will fall on their farm and that will involve statements, but if the animal is shot in the stomach it will fall about 2 km away. Let’s try by all means to use our money to insure peoples’ land. Let MAWF measure our fields, and then state the amount that can be paid out for damages. 27
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HWCM - Ministry of Environment and Tourism

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