31 Jan 2018

When the Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project started in 2014, the majority of communities were reluctant to participate as they had fear that it will compromise their livelihood by introducing strict management systems.

Despite efforts made by relevant authorities to sensitise them about its objective, only few were convinced and welcomed it as they saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

The project was implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and some government departments in areas of Tsodilo Enclave, Hainaveld Ranches and Lake Ngami.

The project was aimed to improve rural livelihoods at the household level through the sustainable management of natural resources by communities. Its main objective is to address land degradation challenges in Ngamiland caused by an increasing population of people, livestock and wildlife, and the  proximity of the Okavango Delta to the natural resources.

The five year project is coming to an end in 2019, and the expectation is to leave a legacy towards the improvement of the livelihood of the communities in Ngamiland.

After several engagement workshops and benchmarking trips, some communities started realising the fruits of the project which sought to come up with sustainable community projects aimed to benefit them in terms of land management and natural resources conservation within their areas.

The project is in its fourth year and some communities in which the project was implemented could not stop praising the project, noting that it had opened doors and availed many opportunities to them which they could tap into to earn a living.

One of the beneficiaries, Shorobe Development Trust has established a partnership with the UNDP through the SLM project. Through the project, the trust received donations of camping equipment worth over P50 000 in an effort to start generating income projects aimed towards improving their living standards.

Another beneficiary is Lake Ngami Conservation Trust and in an interview with the trust chairperson, Ms Helmy Bokhutlo, she said she appreciated efforts by UNDP through the project, noting that the project had made a huge difference in the lives of the community.

In Lake Ngami, the project assisted the trust in reducing bush encroachment around the lake by utilising the encroachment bush to make charcoal and braai wood. UNDP has promised to build a small charcoal factory at Sehithwa after the training of beneficiaries.

Ms Bokhutlo said the trust had secured a lucrative market in Namibia. She thanked UNDP for coming on board when they were in need of assistance, adding that the project would help to eradicate poverty in the six villages which were members of the trust.

She noted that UNDP had shown the communities that they could not rely on fishing only, but they could also explore other opportunities using the natural resources they had at the lake.

Mr Othata Dikobe also appreciated the project, saying it took them many years to realise available opportunities where they could use the resources surrounding them.

“Some of us doubted that we could process charcoal using dead tress, but after the training we realised it is possible,” he added.

He thanked UNDP for coming up with easy and achievable projects which the community could tap into, citing the holistic land management practices project undertaken at Hainaveld Farms.

The SLM project also made a huge impact at Tsodilo Enclave as it assisted with the creation of 12 community fire management teams in the area where 520 community members were trained in fire management skills and techniques.

Tsodilo Enclave is prone to veld fires and the project assisted with the purchase of fire-fighting equipment and the preparation of the Tsodilo Bush Fire Risk Management Strategy.

The project also worked wonders at Hainaveld Ranches where three ranches have been selected to serve as pilot projects in which improved range management would be practised.

The project is in collaborating with the Hainaveld Farmers Association and is aimed to encourage farmers to change their mindset towards rearing of livestock, and to try new management practices in order to make their ranches more profitable.

The UNDP mission is to help countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable human development and growth by assisting them to build their capacity to design and carry out development programmes in poverty eradication, employment creation and sustainable livelihoods.ENDS