Namibia: Business Vital to Conserve Continent's Wildlife
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
8 September 2008
Posted to the web 8 September 2008
Brigitte Weidlich
Okaukuejo
STRONG partnerships between governments, conservationists and the business sector are required to derive commercial benefit from Africa's most competitive advantage - its wildlife and scenic beauty - in a sustainable way to derive income for future generations and protect these natural assets, an international conference brought to light at the Etosha National Park over the weekend.
The third annual general meeting of the recently established non-profit organisation Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA), which took place at the Okaukuejo rest camp in Etosha, again confirmed that tourism is not only the fasted growing industry worldwide and in Africa, but also brings financial benefits to those who need it most - rural communities living in undeveloped areas.
"To date there is no single unifying body in Africa pulling the conservation focus and efforts in an agreed visionary direction, in partnership with business," said Chris Marais, its chief executive officer.
"LCA could unify conservation efforts and support a time- and cost-effective drive to address generic problems in Africa regarding the conservation of nature.
Transboundary and regional co-operation is gaining more importance to open up more pristine areas for tourism, which at the same time preserves them through the income they generate."
Ben Beytell, Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, reported that Namibia's tourism sector provided 77 000 jobs and contributed N$7,8 billion to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007, surpassing the fisheries sector and now second after mining.
"Projected growth of the tourism industry is 7,4 per cent annually for the next 10 years," Beytell said.
"The economic impact of Namibia's protected areas overall translated into N$17 million income from live game exports, N$19,5 million from a recent game auction that included eight black rhinos, which went for N$500 000 each, and around N$10 million income from hunting concessions," he said.
About N$20 million annual income is generated by Namibia's flagship tourism product, the Etosha National Park.
About N$52 million is generated annually from entrance fees at the gates of parks and protected areas.
Namibia has 52 proclaimed conservancies in rural areas, where 230 000 people are living, and the income in 2007 from tourism and trophy hunting in these conservancies came to N$223 million.
The 60 delegates of the business and conservation sector discussed skills development and the possibility of drafting a unified conservation legislation for all African states and 17 country presentations were heard.
According to Marais, conservation experts were usually very knowledgeable about wildlife, but had few business skills.
"As LCA aims to involve the international business community within as many countries possible in Africa, this in itself could be beneficial for the economic development in general on the African continent," Marais said.
"It is envisaged that the LCA national chapters could use their influence to sway governmental and political decisions in favour of best conservation practices, as well as conservation-led socio-economic development."
LCA was initiated by South African National Parks in 2006 and established with support from Gold Fields and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), in collaboration with the heads of conservation of 13 African countries.
This number grew to 17 this year - Namibia, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Gambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
These countries presented conservation and tourism projects requiring funding to the LCA meeting.
LCA will link the countries with potential investors if the projects are regarded as viable.
Namibia and seven other LCA member states in Africa have already established their national chapters, with Deputy Environment and Tourism Minister Leon Jooste chairing the Namibian chapter.
According to Theo Mberirua, Managing Director of the Standard Bank Group in Namibia, it is important to approach conservation efforts from a business viewpoint.
"To ensure the preservation of wild animals and our vast open spaces, everybody must get involved and we must pool expertise so that our children and grandchildren can still view them and derive an income from them," he told reporters at Etosha on Saturday.
Relevant Links
About 20 African and international business leaders including Gold Fields, ABN Amro, the Buffett Foundation, De Beers Group, Mittal Steel, the Plattner Foundation, Sasol, Virgin International, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Getty Conservation Institute are already involved.
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