CBNRM NamibiaCape town March 2009

Maxi Pia Louis and

Kauna Ndilula

Key topics to be covered:

Overview of CBNRM Namibia

Historical financing mechanisms

CBNRM vision

Fund initiative

Workshop expectations

Overview of CBNRM in Namibia

Independence of Namibia and the end of colonial rule in 1990 resulted with the abolishment of apartheid

One of the first African nation to adopt conservation of the environment into its constitution

Evolving economy and associated changes in land use – moving towards integration of wildlife, tourism into rural development approach

Considered by many to have the most dynamic and effective conservation / rural development program in Africa

Human animal Conservation Self Insurance Scheme (HACSIS)

Overview (continued)Unlocking and promoting Namibia’s comparative advantages?

• Policy and Legislative Reform

• Promotion of Innovative Conservation / Development Approaches

Freehold ConservanciesCommunal Conservancies Concessions Policy for National Parks

• Public / Community / Private Conservation Linkages

Overview (continued)Unlocking community opportunities through Policy & Legislative reform

Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia

N$1.20 Windhoek - 17 June 1996 No. 1333

Government Notice

Page

No. 151Promulgation of Nature Conservation Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 5

Rights granted to Rural Communities:

• Conditional Rights over Wildlife

• Rights To Revenue from Wildlife and Tourism

55 Conservancies gazetted to date

12,273,600 Hectares

Aprx. 39% of total surface area in Namibia under Conservation

14.4% of land covered by Conservancies on communal

Overview (continued)Empowerment: 1 in 8 Namibians

>80 Communities mobilized into representative governance bodies

Additional 70,000 people in emerging conservancies

Treat rural residents

as respected &

valued partners and

they will then become

the solution to

conservation and not

the problem!

Community attitudes to Conservation

“We do not hate conservation just the problems –and in not being allowed to benefit!”

Benefits from Communal Area Conservancy in 2007: US$

Financial program benefits are growing

Total for 2007: US$ 5,2 mil

Number of tourist arrivals into Namibia: 1989-2006

• Massive growth in Tourism Sector since 1989• Now over 800,000 visitors a year• 6.9% growth projected for next 10 years• 72,000 tourism related jobs• Estimated 16% of GDP

Historical Funding mechanisms?

• Donor funding (WWF, EC, USAID, SIDA, NORAD,DANIDA, DFID)

• Namibian Government (ICEMA)

• Private sector funding• In kind contribution by Conservancies and the Namibian Government

• Joint venture funding

Challenges vs Strategies

Challenges

Demand on support services

Demand on local technical capacity

Financial compliance / accountability

Human wildlife conflict

Expectations / Utopia

Integration with other livelihood strategies

Sustainability Strategy•Maintain Political Support / Goodwill

• Identify and implement long term objectives and activities

• Address Capacity and Implementation Approaches of Service Providers

• Develop a Long Term Funding Strategies

CBNRM Vision

A Namibian CBNRM Programme which

empowers present and future generations to manage integrated wildlife

and other natural resources

as a recognized and valued rural development option

Sustainability Fund initiative

Engagement of sustainability finance coordinator with the objective to:

develop a sustainability finance strategy (funding mechanisms)

secure stakeholder buy in

implement strategy together with stakeholders

Workshop expectations

Learn from other countries with comparable set –ups

Learn from others on trust fund establishment

Fundraising strategies in mobilizing sizable funding support

Establish network relations

Thank You!