Conservation through enterprise development in Kunene region, Namibia
Case Study C0009
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| Date | 2004 |
| Agency | Torra Conservancy |
| Donor/support agency | WWF Save the Rhino Trust Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia |
| Project type | Self implemented |
| Context(s) | Community conserved area |
| Geographic coverage | Namibia |
| Locality | Kunene Region |
| Biodiversity focus | Key species - e.g. elephants, rhinos, oryx, springbok |
| Development focus | Torra community of Kunene region |
| Conservation goals | Conservation of wildlife of Kunene region |
| Poverty reduction goals | Improving the livelihoods of local people |
Summary
Torra conservancy is a community initiative operating in the Kunene region of northwest Namibia that manages 352,200 hectares of biodiversity rich communal area. It has 450 registered members representing adult population of the area. It is managed by a democratically elected committee made of six members who hold office for two years. Four ethnic groups of the region started the initiative in 1996 when Namibian government passed an enabling legislation which allowed communities to obtain conditional rights over utilization of wildlife area and establish entrepreneurial activities. Torra with a private partner Wilderness Safari Namibia (WSN) initiated Damaraland Camp joint Venture, a luxury tent lodge for ecotourism business. In the year 1999, conservancy hired a professional hunter to sell its hunting quota through trophy hunting. Since 1996, all these activities have produced more than N$ 1.6 m in benefits to the conservancy. Torra has adopted an equitable benefit distribution policy with its members. In the year 2003, about 300 of its members were given N$ 630 each. Local schools were given N$ 30000 and a photocopier. Local communities are also benefiting from employment in growing tourism industry, receipt of meat from trophy hunting and per capita quota of wild animals. All these efforts have spurred local economy and have raised income levels. Simultaneously there has been a ten fold increase in wildlife numbers, consequently Torra is also earning revenues from the sale of live games to other conservancies. Today, this region boasts a population of 74575 springbok, 15364 oryx, 12593 mountain zebra, 700 elephants and 1075 giraffe along with other wild animals. Most importantly, this initiative has been a vehicle of empowerment and self determination for local people.
Conservation impact
A ten fold increase in the number of wild animals like springbok, oryx, mountain zebra, elephants and giraffe, with a significant increase in other wild poulations.
Poverty reduction impact
Since 1996, Torra has generated N$ 1.6 m. Local community is benefitting from direct benefit sharing, employment in tourism and allied industries, meat from trophy hunting, own consumption quota of wild animals and other development projects.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Local conservation enterprise opportunities
Local employment/job creation
Devolution or reinstatement of local rights over/access to resources
Partnership with private sector
Enabling local participation in policy-/decision- making processes
Reference 1
http://www.equatorinitiative.net/files/2004- 0233_Nom_TorraConservancy_Namibia.doc
More information
Mike McGahuey, The Land Resource Managemnt Team, USAID, The Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture and trade, suite 400, 1325 G street, Washington DC. 200005, Email: mmcgahuey@afr-sd.org
Related records above this one:
- Save the Rhino Trust (Organisation O0069)
- Minsitry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia (Organisation O0052)