28 Jun 2016

The Ngamiland Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) forum has called on government to consider providing a waiver on hunting ban on elephants and buffalo species.
The Ngamiland CBNRM forum chairperson, Dr Olekae Thakadu made the call on June 21 in Maun during a meeting with the parliamentary portfolio committee on wildlife, natural resources and climate change chaired by Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North, Mr Itumeleng Moipisi.
Dr Thakadu said the hunting ban had reversed the successes and achievements of CBNRM model.
The CBNRM, through the community development trusts, contributed to rural development, improved livelihoods and employment creation in diverse tourism forms, he said.
“It was a powerful poverty eradication strategy, which assisted the underprivileged and empowered the community,” he said.
However, Dr Thakadu pointed out that the 2012 report on the decline of wildlife species by Mike Chase was the one which informed the hunting ban in 2014. He however noted that an expert engaged by Okavango Research Institute (ORI) to analyse the same report had established that the elephant and buffalo species were increasing.
Dr Thakadu said another report by a different researcher had stated that the elephant and buffalo population remained increasing.
He therefore said the Ngamiland CBNRM forum submissions on the hunting ban waiver followed the fact that the two animal species were common cause of human wildlife conflicts in the area, with elephants causing arable farm destructions while buffaloes were responsible for the Foot and Mouth Disease which had contributed to high level of poverty in the district.
Dr Thakadu also said the hunting ban had negatively affected many community development trusts such as Mababe, Sankoyo, Phuduhudu. The trusts incomes dwindled at a high rate which resulted in loss of jobs for community members especially youth and discontinuation of community projects.
The CBNRM forum, he said also recommended head leases for concession areas to be issued directly to the community trusts instead of the new arrangement under the introduced land bank, in which the investors sign agreement with the government.
Dr Thakadu also said the CBNRM forum called for review of Holding Accounts for community trusts by the district office, an arrangement made following misuse of funds which was common back then.
Mr Moipisi said the wildlife, natural resources and climate changes committee was in a tour to appreciate success and challenges faced by CBNRM model which aims to conserve and use natural resources for livelihoods.
MP Moipisi said the consultations were vital since they informed reports which would be forwarded to relevant bodies. ENDS