The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has handed over human-wildlife conflict management and alternative income-related infrastructure and equipment to households at Oshakati.

Communities in the North Central Regions frequently face wildlife conflicts that threaten their livestock, crops, infrastructure and endanger their lives.

This prompted the establishment of the poverty-orientated support to community conservations in Namibia project, developed as a strategic tool to implement the revised national policy on human-wildlife conflict management of 2018 to 2027.

Speaking at the handover, Minister Indileni Daniel said, "Today we are proud to hand over infrastructure and equipment valued at approximately N$15-million to the conservancies of King Nehale, Sheya Shuushona, Uukwambi, Iipumbu ya Tshilongo and Uukolonkadhi-Ruacana. The POSCCIN project has also supported the development of landscape vision strategies to promote coexistence and reduce conflict."

Three conservancies have been assisted in drafting their human-wildlife conflict action management plan.
Key interventions include the upgrading of 12 existing water points and the drilling of a new borehole.
Additionally, 200 households received solar lights for their kraals to deter predators at night.

" 17 game guards have been equipped with uniforms and tools and trained in first aid and wildlife monitoring. These frontline conservationists now have the resources to respond swiftly to incidents, monitor wildlife and support communities," added Daniel.

Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge remarked that "human-wildlife conflict has been a pressing challenge for communities living in conservancies. These interventions, supported under the poverty-orientated support for community conservation in Namibia project (POSCCIN), provide practical solutions that reduce the risks for farmers while also safeguarding our precious wildlife."