Namibia's communal conservancies

The story of communal conservation - changing landscapes and lives

Namibia is world-renowned for successful community-based conservation. Here, local people are empowered to manage and conserve natural resources within the social, cultural and economic context of their communities, which has resulted in thriving numbers of wildlife and pride in cultural diversity. This, in turn, provides guests with unique opportunities to see wildlife roaming free on communal land, to interact with local and indigenous people and to become immersed in their cultural heritage.

Our story

One of the many tasks facing the newly independent Government of Namibia in the early 1990s was to improve the management of wildlife resources, which were severely decimated due to poor management, loss of local community support and armed conflict in the 1970s and 80s. After Independence, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (now the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism) strove to empower rural people in communal areas. Legislation was introduced in 1996 to allow for the formation of Communal Conservancies "to promote activities that demonstrate that sustainably managed natural resources can result in social development and economic growth, and in suitable partnership between local communities and government."

The remarkable restoration of wildlife that has occurred in most communal areas over the last decade has been facilitated by a sense of local ownership over the resources and direct benefits from managing them. The Government of Namibia has been extremely innovative in managing its natural resources and improving the quality of life of its rural population.

Communal Conservancies have taken a leadership role in preserving large landscapes and conserving indigenous species in large, unfenced areas. This approach is providing a growing number of travelers with authentic experiences and opportunities that are not only unique to Namibia but unique to Africa as well.

Namibia's progressive policies and planning have resulted in wildlife recovery both in terms of range and numbers on communal lands. Though threats from poachers remain, local communities and NGOs are working together with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to protect black rhino and elephant, while populations of rare and endangered species such as sable antelope and black-faced impala have recovered through natural recruitment. In addition, more than 7,000 animals of other species have been translocated from national parks to registered Communal Conservancies around Namibia.

Comparable examples in other countries of successful translocations and range expansions of rare species are rare, leading conservationists from around the world to look to Namibia for lessons to apply back home.

Leading by example

Namibia was the first country in the world to specifically address habitat conservation and the protection of natural resources in its constitution. This led to the Government of Namibia giving its communities the opportunity and rights to establish communal conservancies, manage their wildlife and other natural resources, and share the related benefits. This level of empowerment and local community control laid the foundation for the establishment of the Namibia's Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Programme. CBNRM is a globally recognised model for achieving community benefit at scale while supporting rural development and environmental conservation at the same time.

Encompassing more than 20 percent of Namibia’s landmass and covering prime wildlife habitat, the conservancy movement has grown dramatically over the past decade. As of early 2019, there are 86 participating registered communities with more than 200,000 members. Economic value, including opportunities for job training and employment, to communities has increased simultaneously. This growth largely stems from tourism and the increasing number of travelers seeking out remote wildlands of Namibia, much of which are now covered by Communal Conservancies.

Many of Namibia's Communal Conservancies contain spectacular scenery, rich cultures and burgeoning wildlife populations. Within the Communal Conservancies, there are also an increasing number of Joint-Venture lodges and campsites. These Joint-Ventures are unique in that they are legal partnerships between the lodge operator and host communities, who work in collaboration to achieve both conservation and economic development objectives at a local level, and share in the profits of the enterprise.

With tourism a vital part of Namibia's economy, income from Joint-Venture tourism in Communal Conservancies has helped to transform lives of rural Namibians. Communities are benefiting in ways previously unimaginable, conservation has improved with community members directly involved in monitoring and protecting wildlife, and travelers who are willing to go a little off-the-beaten-path are experiencing the trip of a lifetime.

No matter how you choose to explore Namibia, rest assured you'll have a positive impact on the people you meet and the places you visit if you stay at the conservancy Joint Venture places listed on this website.

For more information and to follow the story of Namibia's communal conservancy movement, visit www.nacso.org.na