Conservancies are not just conservation areas, but they are institutions driving development, securing services, and creating opportunities.

MPs have questioned the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's capacity to tackle poaching, its effectiveness in dealing with wildfires and its approach to human-wildlife coexistence.

This was raised during the debate of the budget allocation for the ministry of about N$736 million dolars.

The recently concluded Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) conference has agreed to roll out focused regional meetings to address specific issues affecting conservancies, community forests, and community associations.

Conservancies support thousands of livelihoods, and in 2025, these areas generated over N$ 109 million in revenue.

This was highlighted by Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel during the opening of the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) conference in Windhoek.

Conservancies and community forests under the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme. generated roughly N$109 million last year. 

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has made over N$ 160 million from trophy hunting through joint venture tourism and over 20 million through conservancies.

Daniel highlighted that the trophy hunting is done in a sustainable manner and under the regulatory framework.

A joint operation by the police, Namibian Defence Force (NDF), fisheries officials and conservancies has led to the seizure of fish caught illegally in the Zambezi Region valued at over N$92,000. 

Conservancies in both the ||Kharas and Hardap regions are reflecting on the extent to which the Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) model has contributed to improving livelihood and protecting the environment.

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.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Tobie Aupindi, has called for change in the operations of conservancies to ensure that they reach their full potential.