Namibia’s tourism ministry has emphasised that the country’s hunting quota-setting system is central to ensuring sustainable wildlife management, including both meat and trophy hunting.
Tourism minister Indileni Daniel said the process for setting hunting quotas for communal conservancies and national parks stems from their obligation to ensure that the consumptive use of wildlife remains sustainable.
Daniel said this while responding to questions about trophy hunting in parliament.
Namibia’s hunting quota system is a highly regulated, science-based approach designed to ensure the sustainable use of wildlife, with quotas set annually by the ministry based on population data, habitat conditions, and, in communal areas, in consultation with local conservancies.
The system balances conservation with economic incentives, where roughly 20% of the quota is designated for high-value trophy hunting, and 80% is often allocated for community "own-use" harvesting.
Daniel explained that quotas are issued in three-year cycles for both own-use and conservation hunting. This approach allows conservancies, national parks, and farmers to plan and enter contracts with hunting operators efficiently, facilitating the smooth marketing of hunts.
“The ministry determines offtake quotas using the best available scientific data, including population estimates, age and sex structure, population trends, and prevailing environmental conditions.”
She said the process underwent a critical review in 2018, placing greater emphasis on data-driven quotas.
Daniel said that oversight is provided by the Quota Setting Coordinating Committee, which includes ministry technical staff and representatives from non-governmental organisations involved in conservation. Communal conservancies and other stakeholders also provide input before the final quotas are approved by the ministry.
Daniel furher highlighted the broader role of trophy hunting, noting that it contributes financially to conservation efforts.
“Trophy hunting provides incentives for wildlife protection, particularly in areas where alternative land uses, such as agriculture or tourism, are less viable,” she said. Revenues from hunting fees support anti-poaching patrols, habitat management, and community development programs.
By sustaining a wildlife-based economy, Namibia ensures that land remains dedicated to conservation rather than being converted to other uses that may harm biodiversity. Daniel said that the ministry’s quota-based system exemplifies the country’s commitment to scientifically guided, sustainable wildlife management.
