Chapter 11 Targeting Collecting for Conservation: an example from Namibia (original) (raw)

Investigation in Namibia's conservation model Full Report LR

Journal of African Elephants, 2021

The Namibian conservation model is an important example of an increasingly ‘neoliberal’ global policy framework as applied to biodiversity conservation, which operates a market-based approach with attendant socio-ecological effects.3 The model has received in-depth engagement and critique, which generally declares it successful in terms of conserving wildlife as well as providing economic upliftment for impoverished rural communities. Yet, as a recent analysis shows, ‘there remains a lack of detailed research concerning how these programs and their value frames are operationalised in practice.’

Selective breeding and the intensive management of wildlife: a legal challenge for Namibian conservation

African Journal of Wildlife Research , 2017

The Republic of Namibia recently lost a High Court case preventing the sale of antelope that were selectively bred and intensively managed to produce traits that are uncommon in the wild. This paper looks at the foundations that the Namibian government may draw on to develop a policy context which would enable the country to redraft and amend existing legislation. The Namibian Nature Conservation Ordinance has exceeded its usefulness, in that it is ill-equipped to maintain and protect the country's wildlife and its traditional enclosed extensive wildlife systems on private farms – and the Ordinance should be replaced. It is further concluded that the provisions of the Maputo Convention and the Nagoya Protocol apply to selective breeding and intensive management of wildlife. Caution is raised that provisions of these agreements, when read in isolation with the definition of biodiversity in the Namibian Environmental Management Act, may be interpreted in a manner contrary to the conservation of this resource. It is concluded that a formal inclusion of the public trust doctrine into the Namibian environmental jurisprudence, as has occurred in many African and countries elsewhere, would provide the necessary omnibus to address current and future challenges to the country's wildlife and other components of the environment.

Reflections on ‘new’ (neoliberal) conservation (with case material from Namibia, southern Africa). (Riflessioni sulla ‘nuova’ (neoliberista) protezione ambientale (con casi pratici dalla Namibia).

Africa e Orienti, 2005

A PARADOX ... When I reflect on CBNRM in southern Africa, I find myself caught between two views or positions. I genuinely do not know what to make of the paradox that thereby arises. On the one hand, I am full of admiration for how the architects of CBNRM have successfully read and participated in the neoliberal zeitgeist of the post cold-war era. I celebrate the achievements in terms of capturing large amounts of donor funding for linking conservation and development agendas in ‘the south’. I also appreciate that CBNRM-based initiatives have generated opportunities for rural people to access monetary, employment and other benefits, largely from increased wildlife-based tourism enterprises; whilst also building and enhancing local infrastructural and governance structures related to CBNRM. In Namibia these relate primarily to the establishment of communal-area conservancies, which are described in more detail in Inset 1...

Conservation Policy and Practice Issues in Uganda

The Albertine Rift is home to 39% of Africa’s mammals, 51% birds, 19% amphibians, 14% plants and reptiles and 79 globally threatened terrestrial vertebrates (Mittermeier et al., 2004 in Winterbottom and Eilu, 2006; AmanigaRuhanga and Manyindo, 2010). Also, 68 Butterfly, 11 Amphibians, 13 reptiles, 36 birds and 23 Mammal species are endemic to the area. But this high diversity of species in the Albertine Rift is being degraded and threatened among other factors by oil industry developments, lack of management technical now how, weaknesses in enforcement/compliance to conservation policies and, use/access competition/conflicts among resource users and managers (Kujirakwinja et al., 2010). Although the Albertine Rift is the most studied region with regard to conservation issues, the drivers of natural resource degradation and thus conservation policy and practice concerns in the region apply everywhere else in Uganda. Poor enforcement and compliance to conservation policies is a key driver of natural resource degradation in Uganda. Uganda is known to have some of the best natural resource use and management policies (Uganda constitution 1995, amendment 2005 inclusive) that when effected could lead to sustainable developments and environment wellbeing. Even though that is true, many of Uganda’s natural resource use/management underpinning policies and legal/regulatory frameworks remain unimplemented. For example, whereas natural resources revenue sharing is provided for under Local Government Act Cap 287, currently, this provision is being implemented for Wildlife only. Wildlife Act 1996 section 58 mandates UWA to control vermin but this is not being implemented as yet. Section 26(1) of the same Act guides on how to deal with wildlife resource use/management offenders, making provisions among others for payment of fines, imprisonment and restitution or compensation but most of these provisions are currently being violated. In general, many of the current policies are sector specific and this limits realization of holistic sustainable development. The need for government and all stakeholders (civil society, academia, private sector, the general public and others) to engage in reviews to help come up with harmonized cross sectoral policies and legal frameworks necessary for sustainable natural resource use and management is thus evident.

Integrating Top-Down with Bottom-Up Conservation Policy in Africa

Conservation Biology, 2009

Abstract: Developed nations intervened in conservation policy across Africa during the 20th century to address needs to protect species and biodiversity that were based on their own perceptions and priorities. In the 21st century, conservationists in Africa have revised these perceptions and begun the process of identifying conservation priorities from an African perspective and in consideration of Africans’ priorities. Although foreign conservation interveners struggled to identify mechanisms to which local people would respond, African conservationists are now demonstrating how to integrate the continent's unique socioeconomic circumstances into efforts to protect biodiversity. In Africa effective conservation policy must include the generation of wealth, reduction of disease and hunger, and support of traditional land-use practices.Resumen: Las naciones desarrolladas intervinieron en las políticas de conservación en África en el siglo 20 para atender necesidades de protección de especies y biodiversidad que se basaron en sus propias percepciones y prioridades. En el siglo 21, conservacionistas de África han revisado estas percepciones y han comenzado a identificar prioridades de conservación desde una perspectiva africana y en consideración de prioridades africanas. Aunque los interventores extranjeros pugnaron por identificar mecanismos a los que respondieran los habitantes locales, los conservacionistas africanos están demostrando como integrar las circunstancias socioeconómicas únicas del continente en esfuerzos para proteger la biodiversidad. Las políticas conservación efectivas en África deben incluir la generación de riqueza, reducción de las enfermedades y el hambre y soportar prácticas tradicionales de uso de suelo.Resumen: Las naciones desarrolladas intervinieron en las políticas de conservación en África en el siglo 20 para atender necesidades de protección de especies y biodiversidad que se basaron en sus propias percepciones y prioridades. En el siglo 21, conservacionistas de África han revisado estas percepciones y han comenzado a identificar prioridades de conservación desde una perspectiva africana y en consideración de prioridades africanas. Aunque los interventores extranjeros pugnaron por identificar mecanismos a los que respondieran los habitantes locales, los conservacionistas africanos están demostrando como integrar las circunstancias socioeconómicas únicas del continente en esfuerzos para proteger la biodiversidad. Las políticas conservación efectivas en África deben incluir la generación de riqueza, reducción de las enfermedades y el hambre y soportar prácticas tradicionales de uso de suelo.