Government has again come out strongly in defence of Namibia’s conservation hunting model, describing it as an essential pillar of wildlife protection, rural development and the tourism value chain.
Delivering a speech on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), executive director in the Private Office of the President, Neville Gertze, said regulated hunting remains a major economic enabler—one that Namibia will continue to defend on the international stage.
Gertze emphasised that while global criticism of conservation hunting is increasing, many of these debates overlook the realities of rural communities that live with wildlife and rely on hunting revenue for basic services and development.
“Professional hunting is a vital part of our conservation financing system,” he said. “It supports water infrastructure, school hostels, clinics and community development projects. It ensures communities living with wildlife see real benefits.”
Namibia currently has 86 registered communal conservancies and community forests, 55 of which have active hunting agreements.
Gertze said that these partnerships have transformed rural livelihoods, generating income, creating jobs and restoring wildlife populations previously under pressure.
“These achievements speak to the strength of Namibia’s conservation model—built on cooperation between government, communities and private operators. It is a model the world now studies,” he said.
Gertze noted that communities continue to face severe losses caused by wildlife—livestock deaths, crop destruction and, at times, human fatalities.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the Human–Wildlife Conflict Management Framework, improving compensation systems and investing in early-warning and prevention tools.
He also recognised the hunting sector’s role in managing problem animals and supporting conservation capacity in the field.
He reiterated that Namibia’s conservation success depends on ethical conduct and strict compliance with national laws, wildlife quotas and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) obligations. Gertze commended NAPHA for maintaining professional standards and accountability.
He urged the sector to further support scientific research, habitat restoration and climate-resilient wildlife management as drought, habitat loss and bush encroachment intensify.
Gertze said Namibia will continue defending its conservation hunting model internationally, but success requires unity across government, conservancies and the professional hunting sector.
Delivering a speech on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the 51st Annual General Meeting of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA), executive director in the Private Office of the President, Neville Gertze, said regulated hunting remains a major economic enabler—one that Namibia will continue to defend on the international stage.
Gertze emphasised that while global criticism of conservation hunting is increasing, many of these debates overlook the realities of rural communities that live with wildlife and rely on hunting revenue for basic services and development.
“Professional hunting is a vital part of our conservation financing system,” he said. “It supports water infrastructure, school hostels, clinics and community development projects. It ensures communities living with wildlife see real benefits.”
Namibia currently has 86 registered communal conservancies and community forests, 55 of which have active hunting agreements.
Gertze said that these partnerships have transformed rural livelihoods, generating income, creating jobs and restoring wildlife populations previously under pressure.
“These achievements speak to the strength of Namibia’s conservation model—built on cooperation between government, communities and private operators. It is a model the world now studies,” he said.
Gertze noted that communities continue to face severe losses caused by wildlife—livestock deaths, crop destruction and, at times, human fatalities.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the Human–Wildlife Conflict Management Framework, improving compensation systems and investing in early-warning and prevention tools.
He also recognised the hunting sector’s role in managing problem animals and supporting conservation capacity in the field.
He reiterated that Namibia’s conservation success depends on ethical conduct and strict compliance with national laws, wildlife quotas and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) obligations. Gertze commended NAPHA for maintaining professional standards and accountability.
He urged the sector to further support scientific research, habitat restoration and climate-resilient wildlife management as drought, habitat loss and bush encroachment intensify.
Gertze said Namibia will continue defending its conservation hunting model internationally, but success requires unity across government, conservancies and the professional hunting sector.
