Conservancy Support / CBNRM
In 1995 and 1996 legislation was passed in Namibia which empowered communal area residents with rights over natural resources. By forming conservancies - registered legal entities with defined land boundaries, management principles and registered members - communities received the rights to manage, use and generate benefits from the natural resources in their area, through trophy hunting, tourism and other resource uses.
The National CBNRM Programme in Namibia is a government programme under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), run in partnership with a number of stakeholders joined in the Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO).
The DPWM support Conservanices and the CBNRM Programme through:
• Facilitate and oversee the establishment of conservancies and other community based conservation programmes
• Develop and improve conservancy management plans
• Support enterprise development (e.g. community based tourism)
• Facilitate capacity building regarding financial management and accountability at community level
• Determine and monitor wildlife utilization options
• Support and oversee conservancy benefits distribution plans