User:Gordonhomer/sandbox

Assignment 2 Wikipedia Article on the Kunene Regional Conservation Strategy The Kunene Region The Kunene region lies in the North West of Namibia and encompasses an area of 700,000 square kilometers. The Kunene Region consists of the Northern Namib Desert and central highlands that are divided by a rugged escarpment. People Successive colonial governments which forcibly removed and relocated many communities within the region has left the people within the region has led to much instability within Geography Climate Natural resources Fauna Flora Minerals Economic Outlook Formation of the Kunene Regional Conservation Strategy (KRCS) The Kunene Regional Strategy was first conceived in 1982 when tribal leaders and Gareth Owen-Smith, a former government game ranger, noticed a decline in wildlife numbers. This decline in wildlife numbers was attributed to the severe droughts of the 1970’s and poaching. Out of concern for the dwindling wildlife populations, a community guard system was formed. This entailed traditional leaders being appointed as game guards, they were responsible for the monitoring of wildlife populations and eliminating poaching. This devolution of power to the grass roots level saw a resurgence in wildlife numbers and a growing sense of vested interest in wildlife from local communities. The communities realized that they could not only value wildlife for its intrinsic, cultural and religious values but also derive an income from the preservation of wildlife. From these humble beginnings Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) was formed. In 1996 the Namibian Government legislated the formation of communal conservancies and tenure over the natural resources (both forna and flora) that reside within their conservancy. Founding partners Objectives Achievements Biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance under the KRCS Biodiversity Fauna (Birds, mammals, insects and reptiles) Flora Ecosystems maintenance Poaching Current management issues Legal tenure of land Distribution of profits generated Harvesting of surplus game Improve tourism opportunities