Namibia’s communal conservancies are designed to align wildlife conservation with sustainable development in rural communities. However, human-wildlife conflict—especially livestock losses from predators—can strain farmer support for conservation.
This study surveyed 147 farmers across five communal conservancies and four resettlement farms to assess attitudes toward predators and conservancy participation. Results showed that farmers who experienced unaddressed predation and lacked support held more negative views toward predators and the conservancy system. In contrast, those who received assistance and tangible benefits from conservancy membership were more supportive of conservation goals.
The findings highlight the importance of practical livestock protection strategies, equitable benefit-sharing and inclusive decision-making. When local communities see real value from conservation—such as revenue from regulated hunting—they are more likely to tolerate predators and actively support wildlife protection. Strengthening community involvement is essential to maintaining Namibia’s successful model of community-based conservation.
