Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Heather Sibungo, said it is crucial for lodge operators to engage directly with conservancies and adhere to the established guidelines and regulations set forth by the conservancy and the ministry.

Sibungo, at the official opening of the meeting of joint venture tourism in conservancies in the Zambezi Region on Thursday, said that by following set guidelines, conservancies can ensure transparency, accountability and alignment with conservation principles when entering into business partnerships, joint ventures or agreements.

This process, Sibungu explained, aims to safeguard the long-term sustainability of the conservancies’ activities, while promoting responsible and beneficial collaborations.

She added that it is important for a conservancy to ensure that the traditional authorities as custodian of land, and the regional councils, are properly briefed and consulted to benefit the members of the conservancy directly.

“Conservancies play a crucial role in managing and conserving wildlife and tourism resources and habitats. As a part of their mandate, conservancies are granted specific rights by the government through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, which empowers them to utilise wildlife sustainability within their boundaries unless otherwise determined by the minister,” she said.

This exclusive right gives conservancies the autonomy to conduct tourism activities and to collect and retain fees from activities that involve tourism.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency