Conservancies

Conservancies are self-defined common property management and social units. These unfenced multiple use areas are zoned by members for their livelihood needs, including crop and livestock farming, mixed wild and domestic animal grazing and exclusive wildlife and tourism. In return for responsible management of wildlife, government gives a conservancy the rights over its consumptive and non-consumptive use.

Conservancy members (share-holders) are required to elect a representative committee (board of directors) to manage natural resources and equitably distribute income derived from tourism and hunting. Most conservancies employ game guards, field officers and community activators.

By end-2003, 29 communal area conservancies had been gazetted and a further 30 communities across the country were in the process of meeting the requirements for registration (Click on the map on the left to to view registered conservancies). Over 71,000 km² of land, incorporating +- 95,000 people in registered conservancies and +-100,000 in emerging conservancies of which the size of the land cannot be confirmed, are currently in the national conservancy program.

Wildlife numbers have continued to increase  and Community-based Natural Resource Management has started contributing significant income to rural communities.