Read this in my SCI Crosshairs email this morning:
Namibia Introduces New Policy for Tourism And Wildlife Concessions
In the wake of all the concession news from Tanzania, we are now hearing about possible new regulations for concessions in Namibia. The Namibian newspaper is reporting that “A new policy has been drafted to regulate the granting of tourism and trophy hunting concessions on State land, which includes game parks, protected and communal areas. The cabinet recently adopted the document, which states that ‘a new concession policy was accordingly developed to serve as basis of new legal provisions concerning concessions that are to become part of the future Parks and Wildlife Management Bill which will replace current legislation.’ The new Policy on Tourism and Wildlife Concessions on State Land lays down clear objectives and principles for the granting of concessions, including empowerment objectives for the communities living in those areas. At the same time, the policy ensures that such concessions do not result in environmental impact or management conflicts. It also establishes a transparent and objective process for the awarding of concessions and provides comprehensive guidelines for its implementation. The new policy provides for the establishment of a special concession unit in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to oversee the tendering process for concession rights and a concession committee. It will operate on fulltime basis via a secretariat. The committee will consist of representatives of the following ministries: Environment and Tourism, Justice, Finance, Agriculture, and Lands and Resettlement. Additional members will be from the Regional Councils and ‘where appropriate, representatives of the private sector and civil society.’ The Minister of Environment and Tourism will appoint the chairperson of that committee. The concession unit in the MET will further advise communities on legal and policy issues regarding concessions. The unit will undertake feasibility studies once applications have been received for concessions.†We will keep you posted. (Source: The Namibian / TJ Safari Newsletter)

Fortunately lots of very good hunting can be had on private property!

That thought mirrors mine exactly Ann.I have enjoyed four trips to Namibia and each time the hunt was conducted on private land.Many others I have looked at and considered were private holdings as well.

i keep bashing my head against a brick wall because it feels so good to stop

Great!! Another dream unmercifully destroyed!!!!! Why me?!?!

Looks like a lot of dissenters will be giving up hunting as a sport or bite the bullet and hunt behind a fence!! ):

Well, some of those fences surround from 55000ac to 250000 ac. not quite a Texas exotic game hunt!

When there is nothing to hunt but pen raised. tagged, chipped, high fenced animals there will be no more hunting..

Why would you get joy out of that?

Where is Larry, Curly and Moe when you need them? They certainly could do a better job of running a country than the present leadership in Africa.

Perhaps it is not as bad as it appears. When I hunted with Vaughn Fulton last year in Caprivi, it was obvious that despite his efforts to reconcile land use conflicts, numbers of locals continued to fish and move livestock in the area in a manner that was detrimental to building a strong hunting concession. Vaughn's vision was a good one, had the support of the tribal leader, and would have benefited all of the players; however, it is hard to get individuals to change their habits and they were complaining to the government.

Perhaps if the government takes a hand, it will be able to develop game reserves and concessions in a systematic fashion and "make" the locals abide by the "rules.

Regarding hunting behind wire, most of the wire I saw in Namibia restrained the cattle and sheep. It wasn't game fencing, and the hunting was great for kudu, gemsbok, and other species. Don't let your prejudices get in the way of a great hunt and a good time. Kudude