Conservancies rise to community challenge

PARLIAMENTARIANS have hailed the Twyfelfontein-Uibasen and Grootberg-Khoadi //Hoas conservancies in Kunene as doing a good job in uplifting the living standards of members of their communities.

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Economics, Natural Resources and Public Administration travelled to the Uibasen, Doro !Nawas and Khoadi //Hoas conservancies last weekend to study the achievements and challenges of these projects. Uibasen Chairperson Johannes Nauseb told the committee that the conservancy has made cash payouts of N$2 400 to its members this year.The conservancy now has 60 members and it is still growing.The conservancy has bought two cars and has granted bursaries to two young people to study tourism and office administration.As communication is very important, the conservancy has also installed a satellite dish at its office, which cost N$35 000.Nauseb said they want to make the cash payout an annual event, but this still has to be discussed at their next annual general meeting.He said the conservancy mainly gets income from trophy hunting.They plan to build a clinic and a primary school in the area, as it is too far for people to travel to Khorixas for medical treatment.Needlework and gardening projects are also being considered.The Twyfelfontein Lodge, which is located in the Uibasen conservancy, has a joint-venture agreement with the conservancy in terms of which the community gets 10 per cent of the income.Last year, the lodge paid N$675 000 to the conservancy, lodge manager Bernd Bohmcker said.About 90 per cent of workers at the lodge are members of the conservancy.The parliamentary committee’s Deputy Chairperson, Peya Mushelenga, applauded the good co-operation between the lodge and the conservancy.The Khoadi //Hoas conservancy also impressed the committee.Covering an area of 360 000 hectares, the conservancy has elephants, black rhinos, zebras, giraffe and warthogs.It has put in place a wildlife management plan, established two alternative water points for elephants and conducted successful game counts.The conservancy currently has 2 000 registered members.The conservancy has established a campsite and renovated two schools at Grootberg with N$160 000 that it raised from donations.In an effort to make more money for its members, the conservancy has also built a lodge – the Grootberg Lodge, which is the first lodge in Namibia to be 100 per cent owned by a conservancy.The lodge was opened by Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore in June.Last week, Konjore said the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme, under which community conservancies are being established, was one of Namibia’s major development achievements.”It brings a new set of natural resources into production in communal areas.It unlocks the economic potential of wildlife, tourism, forest products and many other natural resources,” he said.There are currently 42 registered conservancies in Namibia.Uibasen Chairperson Johannes Nauseb told the committee that the conservancy has made cash payouts of N$2 400 to its members this year.The conservancy now has 60 members and it is still growing.The conservancy has bought two cars and has granted bursaries to two young people to study tourism and office administration.As communication is very important, the conservancy has also installed a satellite dish at its office, which cost N$35 000.Nauseb said they want to make the cash payout an annual event, but this still has to be discussed at their next annual general meeting.He said the conservancy mainly gets income from trophy hunting.They plan to build a clinic and a primary school in the area, as it is too far for people to travel to Khorixas for medical treatment.Needlework and gardening projects are also being considered.The Twyfelfontein Lodge, which is located in the Uibasen conservancy, has a joint-venture agreement with the conservancy in terms of which the community gets 10 per cent of the income.Last year, the lodge paid N$675 000 to the conservancy, lodge manager Bernd Bohmcker said.About 90 per cent of workers at the lodge are members of the conservancy.The parliamentary committee’s Deputy Chairperson, Peya Mushelenga, applauded the good co-operation between the lodge and the conservancy.The Khoadi //Hoas conservancy also impressed the committee.Covering an area of 360 000 hectares, the conservancy has elephants, black rhinos, zebras, giraffe and warthogs.It has put in place a wildlife management plan, established two alternative water points for elephants and conducted successful game counts.The conservancy currently has 2 000 registered members.The conservancy has established a campsite and renovated two schools at Grootberg with N$160 000 that it raised from donations.In an effort to make more money for its members, the conservancy has also built a lodge – the Grootberg Lodge, which is the first lodge in Namibia to be 100 per cent owned by a conservancy.The lodge was opened by Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore in June.Last week, Konjore said the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme, under which community conservancies are being established, was one of Namibia’s major development achievements.”It brings a new set of natural resources into production in communal areas.It unlocks the economic potential of wildlife, tourism, forest products and many other natural resources,” he said.There are currently 42 registered conservancies in Namibia.