Kunene conservancies receive N$31m for human-wildlife conflict mitigation

Communal conservancies in the Kunene region have received grants worth 1.5 million euros (approximately N$31 million) for conflict mitigation from the environment ministry in collaboration with the Community Conservation Fund of Namibia.

This comes as communities in Kunene are increasingly affected by human-wildlife conflict, including loss of livestock, crops, infrastructure and, in some cases, loss of human life.

The grants have been financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW Development Bank.

The funds will be used to implement critical measures from Namibia’s human-wildlife conflict mitigation action plans, according to a joint press release issued by the environment ministry, the German embassy and KfW.

Communal conservancies with tourism enterprises received business continuity grants to support tourism recovery through the upgrading of existing tourism infrastructure.

Equipment, uniforms and infrastructure were also handed over, states the press release.

These include predator-proof kraals, early warning towers, water infrastructure, lion collars, trail cameras and smartphones as well as uniforms and field equipment for rangers and game guards.

In addition, four lion rangers were recognised for their outstanding efforts, and presented with awards as a token of appreciation for their dedication to conservation.

From 1990 until present, the funding provided to Namibia as part of German development cooperation amounts to roughly 1.6 billion euros (approximately N$30.6 billion) in both grants and loans, according to the press release.

KfW currently funds 40 projects in Namibia worth a total of 788.6 million euros (approximately N$15.1 billion), while preparations are underway for future projects worth around 123 million euros (approximately N$2.4 billion).