Communal conservancies create jobs, income for communities

Ester Hakaala  

Communal conservancies are creating employment and income opportunities for rural communities through wildlife conservation, tourism, crafts and sustainable use of natural resources.  

Responding to questions in the National Assembly, Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel said the ministry supports community conservation through the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme, communal conservancies, community forests, community associations, tourism partnerships as well as sustainable hunting systems.   

She said communal conservancies give local communities opportunities to utilise wildlife and tourism resources, while employing community members as game guards to monitor wildlife, prevent poaching and manage human-wildlife conflict. 

“Together, these programmes ensure that communities have ownership, receive income, and are motivated to protect wildlife, making Namibia a global leader in community-based conservation,” Daniel said. 

The minister said nature-based tourism has been a major driver of rural development, with conservancies entering into joint-venture partnerships with private sector operators to establish lodges, campsites and tourism activities. 

According to Daniel, these initiatives have created employment for community members as guides, hospitality staff and conservation personnel, while also generating income through concession fees and profit-sharing arrangements. 

She said local enterprise development, particularly the production and sale of crafts, has also expanded, benefiting community members, especially women, who sell traditional products such as woven baskets, jewellery and carvings to tourists, thereby supporting household incomes and preceving cultural heritage.  

Daniel said communities also benefit from natural resources such as firewood, charcoal, wild fruits, thatch grass, medicinal plants and construction poles, which can be used for household needs or sold to generate income. 

She further said some conservancies have channelled financial returns from conservation into community development projects, including school blocks, scholarships, clinics, funeral support and water infrastructure. 

“In addition, conservation initiatives have contributed to skills development and capacity building, improved natural resource management, and strengthened community ownership over land and wildlife, ensuring long-term socio-economic and environmental benefits,” he said. 

The minister said the ministry is also supporting value addition to natural resources, including honey processing plants in community forests in the Zambezi region and a wood carpentry workshop in Mpungu. 

The carpentry workshop supports more than 20 community members through direct employment, while the Nkurivere Landscape has benefited from community development support, including the repair of school chairs and funeral logistical assistance. 

Daniel said the initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to ensuring that conservation contributes to improved livelihoods while creating sustainable economic opportunities for communities. 

Recycling and waste management  

On recycling and waste management Daniel said, the ministry has supported community-based waste collection, separation and recycling projects and these programmes have created employment opportunities, particularly for youth and informal waste collectors, while promoting environmental sustainability in urban and peri-urban areas. 

Sustainable agroforestry and land restoration programmes have been implemented to combat land degradation and enhance food security. “Through community forests initiatives and climate-resilient agriculture projects, farmers are supported to integrate tree planting with crop and livestock production. These programmes create jobs in nursery management, planting, and land rehabilitation, while also strengthening rural livelihoods,” she said.  

She noted that green jobs are also created in bush control activities to restore rangeland while converting the bush biomass into various value chains including charcoal production adding that Namibia has also implemented bio- trade programmes focusing on sustainable harvesting and commercialisation of indigenous natural products to reduce poverty, enhance biodiversity conservation and promote a green economy. 

She further revealed that partnerships with organisations such as Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia have helped finance green enterprises and support small and medium-sized businesses operating in these sectors. 

“These programmes demonstrate the Government’s commitment to advancing a green economy that creates sustainable employment opportunities while addressing environmental challenges,” said Daniel. 

-ehakaala@nepc.com.na

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