The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in collaboration with German partners, has invested N$31 million in an effort to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and bolster community livelihoods in the Kunene Region.
The project is done in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through the German Development Bank (KfW).
The Kunene Region has long been a hotspot for human-wildlife conflict, impacting both the local communities and wildlife.
The conflict involves various species, including lions, elephants, hyenas, and leopards, resulting in the loss of livestock, crops, infrastructure, and even human lives.
“The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has disbursed grants to the value of N$31 million that will go towards providing communities in the Kunene Region with grants, infrastructure and equipment for human-wildlife conflict mitigation and management,” reads a joint press release.
According to the press release, the investment will go towards the Poverty-Oriented Support to Community Conservation in Namibia (POSCCIN) project.
The funding under the grants will support measures such as the construction of predator-proof kraals to protect livestock from predators, water infrastructure to reduce contact between people, livestock and wildlife in order to reduce competition for this vital resource amongst other things.
The Governor of the Kunene Region, Marius Sheya, emphasised the tangible impact the development would have on the lives of those affected.
“This injection of resources will be instrumental in safeguarding our communities and preserving our unique wildlife heritage,” he stated.
The funds will also go towards the continued implementation of a Lion Ranger Programme; collaring of predators and the establishment of various early warning systems and other measures as requested by the communities.
Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta highlighted the significance of the project, stating: “This collaborative effort signifies our commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the pressing challenges posed by human-wildlife conflicts. By empowering local communities, we aim to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.”
