• SELMA KAULINGEFOR NEARLY four decades, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) of Namibia through its research and conservation programmes, has highlighted the robust link and crucial importance between conservation, tourism and people.
CCF, a long-standing collaborator and beneficiary of Nedbank Namibia’s Go Green Fund (GGF) through various projects, has illustrated a hands-on and unique conservation approach in reaching its objective of saving the cheetah in the wild – as well as invariably boosting the survival of many other species.
The Nedbank Go Green Fund was established in 2001, in partnership with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), to support individuals and organisations working towards a sustainable future for Namibians, endemic species and habitats.
With over 40 projects that have fully or partly been funded in the past 17 years, the GGF’s goal to promote conservation, education, sustainability, awareness and action, have been achieved.
The CCF has delved into the causes of threats against the cheetah and other carnivores, thereby not only protecting cheetah and wildlife, but in turn assisting farmers to adopt new management styles that benefit them, their surroundings and in turn, Namibia as a whole.
“The vast majority of wild cheetahs are outside protected areas, in areas populated by humans. Saving this magnificent animal from extinction requires innovative conservation methods that address the welfare of both cheetah and human populations over large landscapes,” Nadja le Roux, CCF’s community development manager said.
The results have had multiple benefits.
“CCF’s programmes have effectively stabilised and even increased the wild cheetah population in Namibia,” she said.
And, over the past decades, Namibia has earned the nickname ‘Cheetah capital of the world’ for having the greatest density of wild cheetah on any place on earth, and the title that has helped put the spotlight on Namibia as a go-to destination for eco- and adventure tourists.
The organisation has not only helped promote tourism, or a people-centred conservation approach, but helped funnel money into the country’s coffers.
“CCF’s annual impact on the local economy is projected to top US$7,3 million (N$94 million) in 2017, measured by increased tourism, educational opportunities and job creation,” Le Roux said.
She added that through the commitment of CCF’s founder and executive director Laurie Marker and efforts of CCF staff and volunteers, Namibia “recognises the economic value in having healthy, thriving wildlife on its hands.”
Le Roux said Namibia ranks high on the list of eco-tourism countries and is a popular adventure tourism destination as well as a country offering opportunities to “see conservation in action and successful through the link between tourism and local communities.”
These approaches have increased local community awareness and fostered a sense of ownership of the wildlife Namibians live amongst. She said to have more Namibians aware of their country’s “great achievements encourages pride and consciousness of how important our national resources are, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as the large contribution tourism plays in improving an diversifying livelihoods.”
The GGF is currently funding CCF to conduct a study in the Otjozondjupa communal conservancies to determine the density and human-carnivore conflict areas for cheetah and other large carnivores across the Greater Waterberg landscape.
“By mapping these conflict zones, resources can be targeted to these key areas through education of mitigation methods, which in turn reduces the level of human-carnivore conflict in this area, to secure the future of large carnivores there,” Le Roux said.
Le Roux explained that the study, which is currently in its final quarter of implementation, has unearthed worrying data.
“It has become evident that the status of an isolated and unknown population of critically endangered African wild dogs is under huge threat of being decimated,” le Roux said.
African wild dogs are a huge tourist attraction, not only globally, but also in Namibia, where the species has nearly been wiped out. Namibia’s population is less than 150 individuals, and an estimated 4 500 are left worldwide.
Le Roux said the research found that this specific population has been denning in the areas for several years, but has experienced high mortality rates and persecution.
She said the CCF’s main goal is to improve the situation and assist farmers and communities “through a holistic approach in integrated livestock management and tools.”
– Nedbank Communications Division
