How Namibian Conservancies Handle Human-Wildlife Conflict

Resolving and minimizing human-wildlife conflict is a critical task in Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM). In Namibia, communities that form conservancies to monitor and protect their wildlife receive funding to compensate members whose crops are damaged or livestock are killed by protected species like lions and elephants. While there are no funds set aside for those injured by wildlife, families receive a small benefit if a family member is killed by wildlife, and conservancies have the ability to make additional gifts at their discretion. In addition to monetary assistance, the community game rangers who monitor the wildlife are trained to assist farmers and ranchers in avoiding conflict in the first place. In the case of lions, building strong kraals (thorn-branch corrals) that are close to homes and far from thick underbrush is the best way to avoid lion attacks. For elephants, one technique rangers suggest is building a fence consisting of soda cans strung along a wire to startle and repel marauding herds. There is also an effort to connect wilderness areas with wildlife corridors, so that animals can migrate through the region without stomping on maize fields or encountering villages. This effort requires careful record keeping to identify the communities with the most extreme wildlife issues, which is provided by the Event Book record keeping system, profiled in another ChangeStream Media production (   • Video  ). The system is far from perfect. Finding the correct level of compensation that makes wildlife victims whole without bankrupting the conservancies and still encouraging farmers and ranchers to protect their fields and livestock is a tough balancing act. The conservancy system does allow communities to provide their feedback directly to the government ministry setting the compensation policy. And organizations like the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation organization (IRDNC - http://www.irdnc.org.na/) and World Wildlife Foundation (http://www.worldwildlife.org/places/n...) foster the sharing of mitigation strategies between communities (beast practices?). This video, filmed entirely in the siLozi language widely spoken in northeastern Namibia, was made by ChangeStream Media (http://changestreammedia.org/) in partnership with the World Wildlife Foundation. We are a Seattle-based nonprofit that uses digital storytelling to share transformative information, like how to manage natural resources in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to all the people and organizations who made this video possible: Steve Felton and the World Wildlife Foundation, Namibia. Salambala Conservancy leaders Raymond Kwenani, Margret Mutya, Boniface Saisai, Michael Sibeso, and Botha Sibungo. Martin Mushabati, Martin Ñandu, James Thalubenegwa, Charles Sisinyize and all the other Salambala Community Game Guards. Salambala Community Members Ireen Ilukwi, Dominic Machili, Richard Malambo, Merina Matengu, and Zatrick Mbanga. IRDNC members Bennety Likukela, James Maiba, Janet Matota, Dominic Muema, and Beavan Munali. Greg Stuart-Hill and Dave Ward from the NACSO CBNRM group. Super Volunteer Kai- Peter Koenig. And Chester Walusiku, translator and voice actor. Filmed, directed and edited by Sean Koenig. Music courtesy Mwedzi Muchena Arts Ensemble (  / mwedzi-muchena-arts-ensemble-1432340907032623  .