1. COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM IN Namibia 1.Background & Context 2.Different CBT / APPROACHES –Achievements –Best Practices By Maxi Louis

2. Namibia’s CBNRM Programme Namibia 823,988 km²

3. CBNRM Programme Purpose: Empower Local Communities to Manage and Benefit From Their Natural Resources in a Sustainable Fashion Background & Context

4. Introduction Total population of 1,826,854 people on 823 988 km 2 120 000 households on 335 000 km 2 of communal land (41 % of total) 6200 private farms on 362 000 km 2 of commercial land (44 % of total) Protected areas cover 114 000 km 2 (14 % of total)

5. Conservation Policy and Legislative Framework COMMERCIAL LAND: 1968 / 1975 – Nature Conservation Ordinance 1992 – Policy on Establishment of Conservancies in Namibia COMMUNAL LAND: 1995 – Policy on Wildlife Management, Utilisation and Tourism in Communal Areas 1996 – Nature Conservation Amendment Act

6. Conservation Policy and Legislative Framework COMMERCIAL LAND Ownership over huntable game in 1975 Booming wildlife industry Options for mixed farming included game ranching and tourism Farming units (5000 ha) too small for wildlife movements etc., thus formed conservancies COMMUNAL LAND: Wildlife remained state property Declining wildlife numbers (internal and external poaching; unsustainable harvesting by colonial state)

7. Legal Basis of Conservancies Government gazette Of the Republic of Namibia N$1.20Windhoek - 17 June 1996No. 1333 contents Government NoticePage No. 151Promulgation of Nature Conservation Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 5 0f 1996), of the Parliament ……………………………………………….1 Rights granted: *Rights of Ownership over huntable game *Rights to revenues from the Sale of Game or Game Products *Rights to Tourism.

8. A registered conservancy, on behalf of the community it represents, acquires new rights and responsibilities with regard to the consumptive and non-consumptive use and management of wildlife: Consumptive uses include: use of game for trophy hunting, consumption, commercial sale for meat or capture for live sale Non-consumptive uses include: tourism ventures such as community-based tourism enterprises and joint venture agreements with private sector entrepreneurs Rights of conservancies

9. Where are conservancies in Namibia? A further 14 % of Namibia is protected under the state Protected Areas network, and 5 % is within conservancies on freehold land Over 182,429 rural people live within conservancies 44 Conservancies gazetted to date Around 105,276 km 2, representing 10 % of Namibia, now falls within communal area conservancies

10. Different Commercialization Approaches Lodges Community Lodges of Namibia Small & Medium Enterprises Trophy Hunting Private Concessions

11. Marketing of Trophy Hunting Campsites, crafts, guiding Joint Venture Lodges

12. JV Unit Established 2002 Purpose of building capacity to capitalise on tourism potentials Tender process in place to solicit viable JV investments Conservancies acquire Right of Leasehold and negotiate binding sub-leasing contract with investor Government policies, procedures, legislation and support not yet adequate for attracting investments Lack of capital financing

13. The biggest CBT revenue earners are: Accommodation Establishments Lodge partnerships with private sector investment have been the most successful model to date, but have limitations in terms of:  Empowerment of communities  Limited number of potential investors  Other investment barriers Community Based Tourism Enterprises

14. Accommodation facilities in rural areas require… Finance Business skills Experience Effective Marketing Logistical backup Booking & Communication Successful Community Based Tourism

15. NACOBTA founded in 1995 by local communities who wanted to develop tourism enterprises in communal areas. 48 Active Member Enterprises- Campsites, rest- camps, traditional villages, craft centres, information centres, museums and local tour guides Support services to members: Training, Business Advice, Marketing, Small Grants, Advocacy, Booking and Information office Tourism & Business Plans – demand driven Quality product design and construction Appropriate & effective management Monitoring, evaluation and forward planning. Integrate into mainstream tourism

16. Community Lodges  Involve rural people in middle market tourism  Upgrade the standards (and image) of CBT  Develop a new model and approach for CBT Performance based management agreement between conservancy and lodge management company Management agreements between 3 and 5 years (depending on input of each party)

17. Private Concessions Concessions policy under development Provide service through commercial business approach. Concessions for hunting and tourism Generate Income (for state and others) Minimum investment required by State Developed world class tourism attractions and services Development of high end niche markets

18. Trophy Hunting 5000 Trophy Hunters = Total economic contribution of N$160 million pa Wildlife increased (e.g 80% since 1960’s on Freehold Land. Brings very quick direct benefits to conservancy Change of attitude – wildlife seen as valuable commodity Change in livelihood and land-use strategy – wildlife and tourism seen as legitimate land use policy

19. Community wildlife monitoring and management through game guard systems Quotas tendered Tender negotiated, awarded and managed by conservancy. Administration – Government acceptance of game counts, issuing and processing of quotas. Conflict between photographic tourism and hunting

20. Lack of clear land use zonation plans Lack of political recognition of hunting industry Raise awareness amongst senior decision makers regarding value of hunting industry Foster and promote greater black involvement in hunting industry Awareness raising regarding conservation and development merits of hunting

22. Total CBNRM Benefits = N$20,099,173 Total Conservancy Benefits = N$13,844,429 Total Household Income = N$9,109,779

24. Summary Rural Namibians through the CBNRM program have demonstrated their intention to obtain positive benefits from wildlife management and conservation. Development of Mentorship Program as well as assistance from the Private Sector Operators. The Introduction of a Fee For Service Concept Need to work closely with financial institutions other then donor agencies for the support of community based tourism development in Namibia. Obtain positive input from Private Sector Operators in the Development of tourism SME’s

25. Conclusions CBNRM and conservancies are an ideal mechanism to promote rural development because they: bring new and potentially large sources of income to poor rural people are excellent entry points for all forms of rural development because of the institutional mechanisms already in place are excellent entry points for integrated land and natural resource management initiatives promote good governance and democracy at local levels offer entry points for capacity-building, empowerment and skills transfer deliver real OUTCOMES to local and national development objectives.

26. Thanks !

27. Namibia National CBNRM Programme 2004 - Benefits