9 - Wildlife management in Namibia: the conservancy approach

Summary

For wildlife and protected areas to survive on a significant scale, they must be socio-politically acceptable,economically viable and ecologically sustainable.

Graham Child 1955

An African introductory scene

Think of Africa, more precisely of a semi-desert landscape between Etosha National Park and the famous Skeleton Coast in Namibia. Think of the silent and golden moments just before sunset. Then suddenly a sharp crack of branches as a herd of elephant feed on the banks of a small and now dry river in front of Palmwag Lodge. They are not concerned about the load of respectful tourists training cameras and binoculars on them. After a while the tourists return to their sundowners and comfortable chairs, awaiting the next wild offering of this evening. Later that night the herd moves out of Palmwag Concession Area and enters the small fields of neigbouring Grootberg Communal Land.

The next morning the Palmwag kitchen is offering a splendid breakfast of fresh fruit, cereals and yogurt, bacon and sausages, eggs and coffee and juices. The villagers of Humor, one of the settlements near the concessions boundary, are inspecting the trail of destruction caused that night. In just a few hours the herd has eaten or crushed more than half of a millet field which was to have made a major contribution to rural families' subsistence economy.