Leaders of the Chief Hosea Kutako Youth Forum and members of the Aminuis Conservancy Interim Committee have hailed their recent exchange visit to communal conservancies in the Kunene Region, labelling it as having been educative and an eye opener.
Speaking after the exchange visits to the Region, the Chairperson of Chief Hosea Kutako Youth Forum, Brian Riruako said the team wanted to aquaint itself on how to established a conservancy in their area.
Riruako explained that through the engagement, they have learned that traditional leaders should remain key figures for smooth progression of setting up a conservancy in the communal jurisdiction.
He said constant awareness campaigns are of paramount importance.
"We brought this group to come and see how conservancies how they are operating, to come and see benefits they are bring to communities as I'm standing here you yourself has seen how springbok are roaming around with people thats one of the message from our chief he gave said when he came to Kunene it was for the first time to saw a springbok not running away from people so those are the kind of things we want to embrace and learn than we try to take it back to Aminuis.”
Riruako said that the issue of human wildlife conflicts and distribution of benefits that derives from conservation to local communities also emerge on the agenda of their exchange visit.
A community member Annatjie Rooi pointed out that the Region has shown good potential in conservation and this has greatly helped their team to gain much needed first hand experience when it comes to communal conservancies.
She adds that it is now expected from them after this visit to set a strong foundation on how to established a conservancy in Aminuis area.
"I came here with the trip of conservancy by coming to learn about conservation on how to upgrade and I have really learn a lot in term of conservation and I'm really enjoying this moment and for my fellow San people if the conservancy is established at that site please lets take the things serous and be part of the community."
The Chairperson of Puros Conservancy, Lion Kasupi stated that conservation requires strong determination and commitment from all involved stakeholders in order to succeed.
"I do believe that they have different wildlife, but the most important thing is that wildlife protection is a good thing because this will help their kids to see and know better about wildlife rather than traveling to Etosha.”