Securing rural livelihoods — the case for sustainable trophy hunting in Namibia
Trophy hunting delivers millions to rural Namibian conservancies, funding local jobs, infrastructure, and conservation. New research shows why policy decisions must reflect these grounded economic realities.
In Namibia, trophy hunting has emerged as a significant source of income for rural communities, with community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programmes granting rural communities rights to manage and benefit from wildlife on their land. This unique approach has resulted in the steady flow of trophy hunting revenue into local economies, supporting job creation, infrastructure development, and conservation efforts.
Research conducted by Luke Symonds-Mayes, a conservation researcher at Stellenbosch University, reveals the importance of this revenue and its potential vulnerability to recent proposals for trophy hunting import bans.
Namibia's community-based natural resource management programme has empowered rural communities to form self-governed conservancies, allowing them to manage and benefit from the wildlife on their land. These conservancies can sell wildlife and lease land to hunting operators, earning income from wildlife much like ecotourism does. Trophy hunting accounts for more than half of conservancy income, with elephant and buffalo being the most sought-after animals.
The money generated from trophy hunting does not remain stagnant within the industry. Approximately $1.83-million a year is spent by conservancies on local wages, with the largest portion going towards staff including management and game guards. Additionally, over $700,000 a year is directed directly towards community benefits, which include infrastructure, water security, scholarships, and other social development programs.
Furthermore, outfitters employ more than 200 local guides, trackers, skinners, camp and construction workers, who in turn pay almost $200,000 annually in local wages. These jobs provide essential income and support for extended families.
The money also flows into the broader economy, with meat donated from hunts worth more than $480,000 a year being a significant source of affordable red meat for the communities. The revenue generated by trophy hunting supports over 64% of conservancies' income, with the remaining 36% derived from ecotourism and other nature-based activities.
Outfitters on communal lands generate roughly $5.5-million in annual revenue, with around 45% of their earnings – approximately $2.5-million in an average year – being distributed to local community economies through game quotas, hunting-zone leases, employment, community benefits, and donated meat.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
