Poaching, compensation policies, and mismanagement of conservancy funds are annoying to those involved in the Community-Based Natural Resources Management Program in Kunene.

They raised these concerns to the sub-committee on Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, which is on a fact-finding mission of various conservancies within Kunene. 

Conservancies were established to assist rural communities to generate income and bring development through the sustainable use of natural resources. 

However, residents in Kunene are not happy with the compensation policy and want it reviewed, as the amounts paid for human-wildlife conflict losses are too little compared to the value of livestock and other losses.

But the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism blames inadequate budgets as the reason for the negligible payments. 

The ministry is hopeful that the Wildlife and Protected Areas Management Bill, once it becomes law, will address a wide range of shortcomings, including compensation.

Poaching, especially of rhinos and elephants, is a headache for most conservancies.

This, the community members say, is adversely affecting their ability to manage their operations and generate income.

Another burning issue is the mismanagement of conservancy funds by members of some of the conservancies.

The communities say some conservancies have failed to account for revenue generated, affecting the members' benefits from the utilization of resources.

They also pointed out that those who form joint ventures with conservancies to run lodges and other tourism activities benefit the most from what conservancies call unfair contracts.

Drought and the COVID-19 pandemic were also singled out as some of the bottlenecks.

Many animals are migrating to areas with better pastures, forcing conservancies to retrench their workers as a result.

The community also demanded that the COVID-19 grant be extended after it expired last month.