Lahja Nashuuta

Ester Nanyanga Kayala is one of the few female park warden professionals who have found a niche for herself in the male-dominated field, a position, she said, “fits her like a glove”. 

With seven years of experience in conservation and environmental management, Kayala has been working for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and
Tourism since August 2020, stationed at the Namib Naukluft National Park. 

Her passion for wildlife conservation is deep-rooted in environmental management, nature conservation and protection of natural resources.

As the station park warden head, Kayala is responsible for planning, coordinating and delegating various activities, such as law enforcement and visitor permit compliance as well as patrols around the parks.

It is part of her responsibility to ensure park water troughs/points are functional – and that wildlife fauna are consuming clean water. 

“My job requires someone flexible and adaptable, a fast thinker capable of making swift decisions. It demands adequate planning skills, practical park maintenance abilities (such as fixing a fence or welding a steel door handle), a willingness to get hands dirty and the ability to use limited resources effectively and efficiently to meet targeted goals,” she explained.

Besides that, Kayala is also part of the team that deals with human-wildlife conflict reports, wildlife monitoring and rehabilitation of landscapes, as well as the removal of alien invasive plant species from the park – and overseeing the cleanliness of park campsites. 

Kayala is part of the team that conducts mining inspections and engages with different stakeholders, who directly or indirectly affect activities in the park. 

“Essentially, my role is to ensure that my team and I fulfil the objectives outlined in our guiding tools, such as the Park Management Plan, Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 and other relevant tools,” she said.

Born and bred in Onamugolo village in the Ohangwena region, Kayala is a conservationist by profession, with a master’s degree in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter, England and an Honours degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Namibia. 

She began her career by interning at various organisations, such as the Cheetah Conservation Fund near Otjiwarongo, and the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre in the Namib Naukuft National
Park. 

“Afterwards, I worked as a graduate at Langer Heinrich Uranium mine, also in the Namib Naukluft National Park, and later as a research assistant for the Ecologically Based Rodent Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Africa (ECORODMAN) Project in Divundu, Kavango East region, before joining the ministry,” she narrated.

Queried on how her nature conservation skills are beneficial to the government, the outspoken Kayala said her job requires hard work.

“My job requires a hard worker and a strong passion for conservation. Moreover, one needs to have good interpersonal skills, be team-spirited and have a scientific or ecological background to understand the importance of biodiversity, and the landscape we are conserving and managing. These collective skills, which I believe I possess, are what helps my team and I fulfil the conservation goals and objectives set by the ministry,” she said.

Interests and passions

Kayala’s passion and interest in nature conservation started while in high school. 

“During high school, I became a member of an Environmental society, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Through this involvement, I had the opportunity to visit numerous protected areas in Namibia, exposing me to the crucial work conducted to ensure the effective management of our resources and the roles played by the ministry. 

“It is at that moment that I realised my aspiration to join the public service, specifically, the ministry of environment, to contribute directly to the conservation and sustainable management of our natural resources, ensuring their protection for future generations” explained Kayala. She told New Era that working for the government was her destiny from day one. 

While expressing her passion and commitment to safeguarding the park’s flora and fauna, Kayala does not shy away from the fact that working for the state comes with attractive perks that can be enticing for anyone.

Kayala cited benefits that come with her job, such as the opportunity for growth and self-development. 

“The opportunity for growth and self-development has been helpful in my career. The government provided me with the chance to pursue my master’s degree in England for a year, allowing me to return to my job afterwards. Additionally, I was privileged to attend a leadership training programme, the Mandela Washington Fellowship, in the United States of America. I am sincerely grateful for these opportunities,” she said.

According to Kayala, the government, in collaboration with various stakeholders, conducts numerous workshops and training sessions that contribute to capacity-building. 

“As an employee, I am genuinely content and highly motivated to perform my duties diligently. I have travelled around the world a bit, and I can say now that I am happy to be working for the government of the Republic of Namibia,” lamented Kayala.

Challenges 

Every job comes with its fair share of challenges, and it is our ability to rise above them that defines our level of tenacity, she said. 

Admittedly, her limited resources, such as fuel for vehicles, occasionally slow down work operations.

 She, however, maintained that the rewards from her job far outweigh the challenges. 

Kayala strongly believes that planning has proven to be effective in mitigating this issue.

Asked about some of her work-related accomplishments or memorable moments as a public servant, Kayala had this to say: “One time, my team and I received a call from the community in proximity, reporting a significant fire in a specific area of the park. I promptly informed my team, and we quickly packed all our equipment, instantly drove to the reported location and began extinguishing the fire. 

“We worked tirelessly in the heat and successfully managed to control a large portion of it. As we approached the final stages of putting out the remaining fires, some community members, who were initially concerned, joined us, and together we successfully extinguished the remaining flames.”

 She further said, “The collaboration with the community was incredible, and it was heart-warming to receive their gratitude. During that moment, I felt proud to be a public servant, serving the community. I was even proud of the incredible and hardworking team I work with”.

Future plans

The youthful Kayala has no plans to leave the public sector anytime soon. 

“I plan to remain with the ministry for as long as I possibly can and grow within it. Nevertheless, I am open to opportunities elsewhere as well. One often needs to move to learn and grow. Given my current age and stage in life, I acknowledge that a lot can still happen. However, at this moment, I do not have plans to move. My focus is on making a meaningful impact where I am, ensuring that I contribute to improved and effective public service delivery,” she said. 

In her wish list, Kayala aspires to witness positive changes and improvements, resulting from the park’s management efforts. 

According to her, this could manifest in increased wildlife numbers, nature conservation public awareness and a reduction in fines, issued for transgressing park rules and regulations.