The recent engagements at Okakarara Secondary School marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to address Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in Namibia’s Otjozondjupa landscape. Supported by the Poverty Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia (POSCCIN) Project, these workshops brought together various stakeholders, including conservancies, governmental bodies, and conservation organizations, to align strategies and enhance co-existence between humans and wildlife.
Participants from several conservancies, including Eiseb, Okamatapati, Ondjou, Ozonahi, African Wild Dog, Nyae Nyae, and others, attended the engagements. The event was graced by representatives from key organizations such as the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia (CCFN), Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Namibia Association of CBNRM Support Organizations (NACSO), Kalahari African Wild Dog Conservation Trust (KAWDCT), and Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF).
The primary aim of the workshops was to harmonize the efforts of these conservancies in managing HWC, with a specific focus on African wild dogs (AWDs), a species that significantly contributes to the conflict.
Day 1: Strategic Discussions and Policy Alignment
Background on the Landscape Vision Strategy:
The strategy, developed by the conservancies in Otjiwarongo, focuses on conserving wildlife, particularly AWDs, while safeguarding local livelihoods.
National Policy on Human-Wildlife Conflict:
The HWC policy, revised in 2018, guides MEFT, conservancies, and local communities on managing conflicts. It includes strategies like research and monitoring, incident response units, and community engagement.This plan aims to guide conservancies in drafting action plans and proposals for fundraising. With only 544 AWDs in Namibia, the plan emphasizes capacity development, co-existence, policy alignment, and land use.
CCF’s Wildlife Research in Eastern Communal Conservancies:
CCF’s research highlights include identifying 31 mammal species, including AWDs, using camera traps to monitor animal movements in conservancies like Otjituuo and Ozonahi.
African Wild Dog Conservation Project:
Focusing on AWDs, this project emphasizes adult conservation due to the high mortality rate of young AWDs. Despite the challenges in accurate counting, AWDs are monitored through camera traps.
Day 2: Innovative Approaches and Future Planning
Wildlife Credits: Landscape Product:
This innovative approach rewards communities for co-existing with wildlife through performance payments based on verifiable results. The project aims to attract donor investment, with AWDs as a flagship species.
Natural Resource Working Group Activities:
The group supports conservancies in implementing Natural Resources Management Systems, including event book monitoring, anti-poaching efforts, and adaptive management.
HWC Management and Attitude Survey Report:
The workshops emphasized the need for managing HWC using the national policy and discussed procedures for offset claims. A 2023 survey revealed low tolerance for wildlife in Otjozondjupa, prompting a follow-up survey to assess project impact.
Landscape Vision Strategy Implementation:
The strategy includes objectives like reducing livestock predation and infrastructure damage. Mitigation strategies, such as awareness creation, will be implemented at both landscape and conservancy levels.
Participants planned to develop a landscape proposal aligning with the Vision Strategy and AWD Conservation Management Plan. The proposal aims to be ready by July, with implementation starting in September and October 2024.
The engagements at Okakarara Secondary School were pivotal in fostering a collaborative approach to conservation in the Otjozondjupa landscape. By aligning efforts and developing comprehensive strategies, the POSCCIN project and its stakeholders aim to promote sustainable co-existence between humans and wildlife, ensuring the preservation of Namibia’s rich biodiversity while supporting local communities.
