Community engagement and development, considering the needs of the 7,000 people living in and around the park, is a key focus, and includes engaging with traditional authorities, communities, provincial governments, NGOs and private sector entities.
A pastoralism study to understand livestock migration and park resources use has been completed, as was a report following the 2022 community census which showed that just over 6,500 people live within, and on the immediate periphery of, the park comprising various ethnic groups within the Herero family, including the Himba people.
Community Engagement
Regular community meetings are held with traditional leaders (sobas) to maintain strong relationships with communities, focusing largely on environmental education and the importance of conservation.
The focus over the past year has primarily been on collecting information and feedback to establish a Land Use Plan. This included consultations with ten community groups where over 900 members took part in mapping and discussions around seasonal cattle migration routes, water points, sacred areas and other information.
Working closely with communities is essential in maintaining the functional integrity of the park. Methods to reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict – mainly livestock predation – are being put into place to find ways of mitigation while allowing the predator populations to recover.
The Community Observer Programme provides a channel for two-way information flow between local people and the park management team. Community Observers and wildlife monitors report on wildlife sightings, and community feedback to park management, and provide information from park management to the communities in the form of updates or informative meetings.
Education and Environmental Awareness
As children are traditionally kept home from school to watch over the herds of livestock, the Community Development team has been working with local communities to place a higher value on education. To aid in this, scholarships continue to be awarded – to 20 students in 2023 – and two primary schools supported, with 31,000 school meals provided over the year.
School teachers have become increasingly involved in aspects of environmental education, as well as making use of an Environmental Education Manual that has recently been produced.
Sustainable Enterprise Development
Working with semi-nomadic populations presents challenges to developing sustainable enterprises. However, the park’s Community Development team is working with local communities to better understand the types of artisanal handicrafts local women can produce. The result has been the establishment of a Community Art and Craft Association where the artisans have begun to produce and sell their handiwork.