Of the 86 registered conservancies in Namibia, 49 have active hunting agreements with hunting operators. According to the latest statistics from the tourism ministry, during the 2023 hunting season, conservancies generated around N$40.7 million from hunting. The ministry said that conservancies benefit through hunting by generating income, meat, employment, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and through infrastructure and benefit distribution. “The meat from all the animals that are hunted, through trophy hunting and own-use hunting, goes directly to the members of the respective conservancies.” According to the ministry, during the 2024 hunting season, the total amount of meat distributed to the communities within conservancies for trophy meat amounted to 142 237 kilograms and own-use meat amounted to 111 801 kilograms. Furthermore, the ministry said that hunting-related tourism creates jobs for local communities. While community conservation facilitated 2 340 jobs in 2023, a total of 1 057 people were employed by conservancies. Meanwhile, 74 joint-venture enterprises with conservancies employed 934 people full-time and 104 part-time, while 57 hunting concessions created 165 full-time and 80 part-time employees. The ministry said that these jobs can include skinners, trackers, chefs, camp attendants, cleaners, security staff, professional hunters and hunting guides, as well as training and skills development. The generated income from hunting is used for conservation efforts, community development and anti-poaching measures. “The income from hunting also helps fund compensation programmes for communities that suffer losses due to wildlife attacks on crops or livestock,” the ministry said. It added that revenue from hunting is invested in the building of schools, clinics, roads, electricity, water provision for both people and wildlife, uniforms, donations like money, stationery and computers, improving overall community well-being. Another benefit of hunting is sustainable resource management. “Quotas and regulations ensure that hunting is conducted sustainably, targeting older, non-breeding animals while maintaining healthy wildlife populations. Misconceptions The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) said that conservation hunting remains one of the most misunderstood aspects of wildlife management, particularly among those who do not engage with or directly benefit from it. It said that in countries like Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the United States - some of the world’s leading hunting destinations - hunting plays a significant role in conservation efforts. “Yet, misinformation continues to shape public perception, often to the detriment of conservation initiatives.” Misconception 1: Hunting leads to species decline NAPHA said that one of the most persistent myths is that hunting contributes to the decline of wildlife populations. “In reality, regulated conservation hunting ensures species' survival by placing value on wildlife, encouraging landowners and communities to protect habitats rather than convert them for agriculture or other developments.” The hunting association said that Namibia’s communal conservancy model is a prime example of how hunting revenue directly benefits conservation and rural communities. It said that since the introduction of this system, species such as the black rhino, cheetah and elephant have seen stable or increasing populations due to the vested interest in their survival. “Without this economic benefit, many of these areas would struggle to fund anti-poaching measures and conservation efforts.” Misconception 2: All hunting is the same NAPHA said that another common misunderstanding is equating all forms of hunting with unethical or uncontrolled killing. According to the association, many non-hunters conflate poaching with regulated hunting, failing to recognise that ethical hunting operates under strict regulations. It said that conservation hunting follows science-based quotas, ensuring that only older, post-reproductive males are harvested, leaving breeding populations intact. "In Namibia for instance, the Age-Related Trophy (ART) measurement system promotes sustainable offtake by rewarding the selection of mature animals, reinforcing responsible hunting ethics. Similarly, in South Africa and the United States, strict game laws regulate hunting seasons, bag limits, and permits, all aimed at maintaining healthy wildlife populations." Furthermore, ethical hunters work closely with conservationists, biologists and government authorities to ensure that hunting contributes to biodiversity rather than harming it. Misconception 3: Hunting does not benefit local communities The association added that a widespread myth is that hunting benefits only a wealthy few while offering nothing to local people. However, in Namibia’s conservancies, up to 90% of the income generated from hunting is reinvested into local communities, funding education, healthcare and anti-poaching efforts. The employment opportunities created through conservation hunting, from game guards to trackers and lodge staff, provide livelihoods to thousands of rural Namibians. Misconception 4: Photographic tourism can replace hunting According to NAPHA, many non-hunters believe that photographic tourism is a viable alternative to conservation hunting. “While photo tourism is undoubtedly valuable, it cannot replace hunting in all regions. Many of Namibia’s remote and arid landscapes, as well as parts of Zimbabwe and Tanzania, are not suited for high-volume tourism due to low infrastructure development and unpredictable wildlife densities.” It said that hunting generates income from a low-volume, high-value model, meaning that a handful of hunters can financially sustain conservation efforts that would require thousands of tourists to match.
