Conservancy in Kunene is a success story

THE #Khoadi //Hoas communal conservancy in the Kunene Region is funding soup kitchens for local pensioners as well as providing funds for two schools in the conservancy area.

One of Namibia’s most prosperous communal conservancies, #Khoadi //Hoas is also providing diesel for water pumps at water points for elephants. Its members get financial compensation for damages caused by elephants and predators.”We recognise the fact that living with wildlife often carries a risk and my Ministry alone cannot be able to assist the local communities with damages caused by wildlife,” said Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore.He was the key speaker at the 10th anniversary of the #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy, which was held recently at the Grootberg Conference Hall.Konjore said his Ministry was in the process of creating innovative mechanisms to reduce the level of human-wildlife conflict, to ensure that the benefits of conservation management outweigh the costs.He said #Khoadi //Hoas was one of the model conservancies that the Community-Based Natural Resource Management programme of his Ministry can be proud of.Konjore said the #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy has excelled in all aspects and is the first communal conservancy to own a tourist lodge.The Grootberg Lodge was opened on June 24 2005.The conservancy also has the #Khoadi Campsite, situated close the village of Erwee.#Khoadi //Hoas was one of the first four conservancies proclaimed by Government in 1998.The other three are the Nyae-Nyae, Salambala and Torra conservancies.Its members get financial compensation for damages caused by elephants and predators.”We recognise the fact that living with wildlife often carries a risk and my Ministry alone cannot be able to assist the local communities with damages caused by wildlife,” said Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore.He was the key speaker at the 10th anniversary of the #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy, which was held recently at the Grootberg Conference Hall.Konjore said his Ministry was in the process of creating innovative mechanisms to reduce the level of human-wildlife conflict, to ensure that the benefits of conservation management outweigh the costs.He said #Khoadi //Hoas was one of the model conservancies that the Community-Based Natural Resource Management programme of his Ministry can be proud of.Konjore said the #Khoadi //Hoas conservancy has excelled in all aspects and is the first communal conservancy to own a tourist lodge.The Grootberg Lodge was opened on June 24 2005.The conservancy also has the #Khoadi Campsite, situated close the village of Erwee.#Khoadi //Hoas was one of the first four conservancies proclaimed by Government in 1998.The other three are the Nyae-Nyae, Salambala and Torra conservancies.