N$16.8m worth of equipment, assets donated in Zambezi

Infrastructure, equipment and assets valued at approximately N$16.8 million were handed over to communities last week to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and improve livelihoods in the Zambezi Region.The handover was carried out by the environment ministry in collaboration with the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia and the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Area (KAZA). The donation was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank.The joint handover took place under the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia, which has implemented the Poverty-Orientated Support to Community Conservation in Namibia project and the Community Livelihood Development and Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation programme.Community members living in the Zambezi Region are among some of the most affected by human-wildlife conflict involving a wide range of species such as lions, elephants, hippos and crocodiles.Incidents include loss of livestock, crops, infrastructure and, in some cases, loss of human life.Support communities Speaking at the event, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said the region continues to be a shining example when it comes to wildlife conservation, community-based natural resource management initiatives and tourism-related benefits.“Our country remains a sought-after destination for tourists due to our diverse wildlife and people. This is a heritage we have inherited, which we must safeguard for our future generations.”Shifeta said the first-ever national conference on human-wildlife conflict management, held in May 2023, concluded with a number of resolutions, one of which was to revise the offset amounts for human-wildlife conflict losses upward. “In addition, our ministry announced the culling of 640 different species as part of human wildlife conflict mitigation as well as in response to the devastating drought emergency.”The environment minister said while the decision may have been met with a negative response in certain corners of the world, stakeholders and partners can be assured it was made in line with scientific consideration, merit and in a manner that promotes sustainability. The decision was also made in consultation with local communities.Improve livelihoods Shifeta added that the grants and equipment being handed over are community-planned, community-led, and community-implemented to ensure they are empowered to address human-wildlife conflict and improve livelihoods in the region.The infrastructure and equipment include predator-proof kraals, water infrastructure to reduce contact between people and livestock as well as the threat from crocodiles, wildlife monitoring and patrol equipment for game guards, human-wildlife conflict warning systems, safety gear, a response vehicle and equipment for the Chobe Lion Programme, beekeeping equipment and water infrastructure to improve the livelihoods of community forests.

N$16.8m worth of equipment, assets donated in Zambezi

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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N$16.8m worth of equipment, assets donated in Zambezi

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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