Rudolf Gaiseb
Communities living within and around communal conservancies are yet to fully
draw benefits from trophy hunting. In addition, trophy hunting, which is the single largest contributor of income for conservancies has failed to fully benefit them.
This is mainly because of low expertise in concession management on the side of the conservancies and the general community.
This is amongst the findings of a Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, which found that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism fails to audit and verify how much revenue is generated, allowing concession holders to under-declare income and pay minimal amounts to conservancies.
The committee made specific reference to conservancies in the Zambezi, Kavango
West and Kavango East regions.
In the Sobbe Conservancy in Zambezi, the minimum price for a trophy elephant, set at US$17 000 (approximately N$292 000) was described as far below its actual market value.
The residents urged the government to review this policy to ensure equitable benefit-sharing. Stakeholders also argued that conservancy officials should be capacitated to manage concessions directly.
From 11 to 15 August 2025, the committee visited Sobbe and several other conservancies in the regions to monitor the implementation of the government programmes, policies, and legislation relating to the sustainable management of natural resources.
Sobbe has 1 343 members and 23 staff and relies primarily on hunting activities for income. It contributes N$58 000 annually to the ‘Masida Kuta’ and provides support to churches and other community institutions, as well as distributing meat to local communities, chairperson Mutahane Sadic told the committee during the visit.
“However, Sobbe only qualifies for two elephants per quota period, which limits its revenue base,” the report states.
“The price per elephant is determined through a bidding process, with the highest bidder receiving the hunting quota. All funds generated remain within the community, and not a single cent is remitted to government coffers,” it states.
The committee states that, despite progress, conservancies face several challenges.
This includes illegal fencing in wildlife corridors, poor land-use planning, and allocations made without proper consultations. Incompatible land uses, illegal occupations, and a lack of effective community policing also undermine conservation efforts.
Human-wildlife conflict is also on the rise, while poaching continues to threaten wildlife resources.
In the Salambala Conservancy, located near the Zambezi and Chobe rivers, community members reported that despite the vastness of the Salambala Conservancy they are not recognised as beneficiaries of fishing quotas.
“This exclusion limits their access to important livelihood opportunities,” the committee states.
Additionally, when they cultivate their fields, crops are destroyed by elephants.
No matter how frustrating and discouraging this situation is for farmers, the report highlights, compensation is only provided when damage is caused by elephants or buffalo, but not any other animals.
The problem of the human-wildlife is worse when some community members kill those ‘problematic animals’, which often leads to their arrest.
In the area, owning high-calibre firearms is banned, while only light firearms are permitted, such as shotguns. The community members expressed dissatisfaction thereunto, noting it is ineffective against elephants and buffalo. The conservancy has also stopped selling game meat to residents. But on the other hand, poaching is restricted but continues to scour the conserved areas.
“This is a serious problem threatening the effective management of the conservancy. Amongst the contributing factors are the community members residing within the core area of the conservancy,” the committee reported. The committee recommends that the ministry intensify law enforcement and community awareness initiatives to address poaching, encroachment, land-use conflicts, and illegal timber harvesting.
This also involves, supporting conservancies to realign with emerging market opportunities and adopt innovative, sustainable economic models.
“The ministry should develop strategic interventions to optimise the wildlife and tourism value chain, ensuring that communities derive maximum and sustainable benefits,” the committee wrote.
Communal conservancies are self-governing, democratic entities, run by their members, with fixed boundaries that are agreed with adjacent conservancies, communities or land owners. Conservancies are recognised by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), but not governed by the Ministry, which does, however, have powers to de-register a conservancy if it fails to comply with conservation regulation.
Namibia is one of few countries in the world to specifically address habitat conservation and protection of natural resources in their constitution.