Investigating local participation in tourism and the protection of black rhinos in North-Western Namibia: a case study of //HUAB Conservancy

Abstract

Globally, poaching has been identified as one of the most urgent threats facing rhino conservation. In the communal lands of north-western Namibia, the loss of the unique desert-adapted black rhino population would have significant economic and environmental consequences. Rhino tracking tourism has provided steadily increasing financial and conservation returns to Namibian communal conservancy residents for over a decade. However, little is known about local perceptions of rhinos and rhino-based tourism. This study aims to contribute to a growing school of thought that promotes the role of local people in wildlife conservation and sustainable development in rural areas. Using a mixed-method approach for data gathering, a total of 48 conservancy members were interviewed at their homesteads in //Huab conservancy, north-western Namibia. Thematic analysis was employed to establish recurring themes in qualitative answers. Findings show that cash payments to conservancies may not be the best method of distributing benefits from tourism. In addition, low levels of basic knowledge about the tourism enterprise and the conservancy in general highlight governance challenges. Despite this, the study found that rhinos are favourably perceived by the residents of the conservancy and that tourism is seen by conservancy members as a positive driver for rural development in the area and has the potential to reduce poaching. The study concludes that the transfer of ownership over wildlife to rural people can be an effective mechanism to drive positive environmental and social outcomes, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is important to note, however, that challenges such as poor governance persist. Adaptive management and flexibility should therefore feature prominently in the implementation of community-based natural resource management initiatives.

Kwihlabathi liphela, ukuzingela ngokungekho mthethweni kubonwa njengesona soyikiso sikhulu sijongene nolondolozo lwemikhombe. Kumhlaba wabantu okumNtla Ntshona weNamibia, ukutshatyalaliswa kwemikhombe emnyama edalelwe intlango isaya kuba neziqhamo ezibi kwezoqoqosho nakwindalo esingqongileyo. Kweli shumi leminyaka lidluleyo ukhenketho lokulandela imikhombe luze nengeniso ethe chu kuqoqosho nakwindalo esingqongileyo kwaye kuyabanceda abantu abahlala kwimimandla yolondolozo lwendalo kawonkewonke yaseNamibia. Noxa kunjalo, luncinci ulwazi olukhoyo malunga nezimvo zabantu bendawo ngemikhombe nangokhenketho olusekelwe kwimikhombe. Esi sifundo sijolise ekuncediseni umdla okhulayo ekukhuthazeni indima edlalwa ngabantu bendawo kulondolozo lobomi basendle nophuhliso oluzinzileyo kwimimandla yasemaphandleni. Kuqokelelwe iinkcukacha zolwazi ngokusebenzisa iindlela zophando ezixubeneyo, kwadliwana iindlebe namalungu angama-48 omphakathi weendawo zolondolozo kumakhaya awo, kwindawo eyaziwa ngokuba yi //Huab, kumNtla Ntshona weNamibia. Kwenziwa uhlalutyo ngokwemixholo ekuveliseni imixholo ethe gqolo kwiimpendulo ezidaleka ngokuzathuza. Kwafunyaniswa ukuba ukuhlawula imali kwimimandla yolondolozo ayingebi yeyona ndlela ilungileyo yokunceda ephuma kwezokhenketho. Ngaphezulu, kukho umngeni kwezolawulo odalwa ngumgangatho wolwazi osezantsi ngorhwebo lokhenketho nangolondolozo ngokubanzi. Ngaphandle koku, esi sifundo sifumanise ukuba imikhombe iyathandwa ngabantu bendawo, kwaye amalungu eendawo zolondolozo alubona ukhenketho njengendlela eyiyo yokuqhubela phambili uphuhliso lwamaphandle, kwaye lunakho ukunciphisa ukuzingela ngokungekho mthethweni. Olu phando lugqibe kwelokuba ukuba abantu basemaphandleni bangenziwa abanini bendalo yasendle oku kunganeziphumo ezihle kulondolozo lwendalo nakwezentlalo jikelele, kwaye oko kungafezekisa iinjongo zophuhliso oluzinzileyo phantsi kwenkqubo yeUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Noxa kunjalo ke, kubalulekile ukuqaphela ukuba isathe gqolo imingeni efana nolawulo olubuthathaka. Ngoko ke kufuneka kuqiniswe ulawulo olulungiselelwe noluhambelana neemeko zeendawo xa kusungulwa amalinge okulawula indalo nasekelwe kubantu bendawo.

Wildstropery is regoor die wêreld geïdentifiseer as een van die ergste bedreigings waarmee renosterbewaring te kampe het. Die verlies aan die uniek woestynaangepaste swartrenosterbevolking gaan aansienlike ekonomiese gevolge sowel as omgewingsgevolge op die kommunale gronde van noordwestelike Namibië hê. Toerisme wat spesifiek op die opsporing van renosters toegespits is, het vir langer as ’n dekade in toenemende mate ’n finansiële opbrengs sowel as opbrengste vir bewaring aan die inwoners van die Namibiese bewaringskommune gelewer. Min is egter bekend oor plaaslike persepsies oor renosters en toerisme wat spesifiek op renosters gebaseer is. Hierdie studie het ten doel om ’n bydrae te lewer tot’n groeiende denkrigting wat die rol van plaaslike mense in wildbewaring en volhoubare ontwikkeling in landelike gebiede bevorder. ’n Gemengdemetode-benadering van data-insameling is gebruik om onderhoude met 48 bewaringslede by hul huise in die //Huab-bewaringsgebied in noordwestelike Namibië te voer. Tematiese ontleding is ingespan om vas te stel watter temas herhaaldelik in kwalitatiewe antwoorde voorkom. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat kontantuitbetalings aan bewaringsgebiede dalk nie die beste manier is om die voordele te versprei wat uit toerisme verkry word nie. Bykomend hiertoe word bestuursuitdagings deur die lae vlakke van basiese kennis oor die toerismebedryf en bewaring oor die algemeen, beklemtoon. Afgesien hiervan, het die studie bevind dat die inwoners van die bewaringsgebied renosters in ’n gunstige lig sien. Bewaringsgebiedlede ervaar toerisme as ’n positiewe drywer van landelike ontwikkeling in die gebied, en ook dat dit die potensiaal het om stropery te verminder. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die oordrag van eienaarskap van wild aan landelike mense ’n doeltreffende meganisme kan wees om positiewe omgewings- en sosiale uitkomste ooreenkomstig die Verenigde Nasies Volhoubare Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte te dryf. Dit is egter belangrik om kennis te neem dat uitdagings soos swak bestuur steeds voortgaan. Adaptiewe bestuur en inskiklikheid moet daarom prominent in die implementering van gemeenskapgebaseerde natuurlike hulpbron bestuursinisiatiewe vertoon.