Namibian communal conservancies: why an integrated programme works

Large carnivores are currently facing severe threats and are experiencing substantial declines in their populations and geographical ranges around the world (Ripple et al., 2014). Human-wildlife conflict is a risk to 31% of... [ view full abstract ]

Large carnivores are currently facing severe threats and are experiencing substantial declines in their populations and geographical ranges around the world (Ripple et al., 2014). Human-wildlife conflict is a risk to 31% of the global carnivore species (IUCN Red List, 2013). The vast majority of Namibia’s cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and other large carnivores reside outside of national parks. Namibia is made up of a mosaic of land uses which includes both privately owned fenced game farms and open communal conservancies. Approximately 23,000 people live and work across the four Herero Land communal conservancies (African Wild Dog, Ozonahi, Otjituuo, Okamatapati). Raising livestock, especially cattle, is the main income stream. However, this has come at a price to the local wild game species and carnivores of the area. The numbers of herbivore species across Herero Land have been decimated, leading to a rapid decline of a prey base for carnivores. Livestock predation has lead to the current high levels of human-carnivore conflict. In 2012 a needs assessment survey was conducted by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) through interviews across 123 villages in Herero Land. The average livestock unit was found to be 15.5 LSU/hectare which links with the finding that bush encroachment and overgrazing where the main issues in relation to veld management. Based on the 2012 survey findings in 2014/15 (funded by Future Farmers of Africa/European Union) CCF is conducting an intense integrated wildlife and livestock management programme. The workshops cover a variety of topics which include; kraal management, grazing management, record keeping and finances, biodiversity, human-wildlife conflict, veterinary care and many more. So far 84% of participants have stated that they are losing 20 or more individual livestock animals to predators per year. CCF has developed simple mitigation technique through our research for example our Anatolian livestock guarding dogs in conjunction with a herder reduces livestock predation by up to 80% per farm. Our combination of techniques has already reduced the rate of human-wildlife conflict and in turn helped to maintain a viable population of carnivores across Namibia’s conservancies.