Namibia: Economic Crisis Targets Trophy-Hunting Industry

The reduction in the number of hunting clients due to the world economic crisis holds serious negative consequences for the Namibian trophy-hunting industry.

An executive member of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NPHA), Marina Lamprecht, raised this concern during an interview with Nampa last week after a trophy-hunting workshop.

"We recognise that as we take on the many challenges of our time in Africa, including poverty, education and land reform, our focus increasingly must be on the most effective utilisation of land for the direct benefit of human beings," Lamprecht said.

She said other challenges facing the industry include the unethical behaviour of some hunting professionals.

Lamprecht said members representing the industry have vowed to give their full support to law-enforcement agencies to curb illegal and unethical hunting in the country.

Delegates learnt during the proceedings that illegal hunting practices in Namibia have been taking place over the last 18 years, with South African hunters allegedly the main cause for concern.

Lamprecht said Namibia's wildlife is a natural resource with the potential to develop into one of the country's most valuable renewable assets if it is managed properly and utilised in a sustainable manner through fee-based trophy hunting.

She said the industry has the potential to employ more people, provide better salaries, training opportunities, skills recognition and job promotion opportunities.

According to Lamprecht, a series of follow-up workshops will take place soon in order to build the capacity of the various local trophy-hunting operations.

"Ethical, fair chase and selective trophy hunting has proved to be a successful conservation tool as well as the most lucrative form of commercial and communal land utilisation, with obvious ecological as well as economic benefits," she added. - Nampa

I wonder if it had anything to do with the NPHA threatening Americans with USFW violations?

quote:

Delegates learnt during the proceedings that illegal hunting practices in Namibia have been taking place over the last 18 years, with South African hunters allegedly the main cause for concern.

Blame someone else for your own industry's problems, that is the way today.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Namibia: Economic Crisis Targets Trophy-Hunting Industry

And it took them from 2008 to 2011 to realize that “the world economic crisis” might have
“serious negative consequences for the Namibian trophy-hunting industry” Really??
Didn’t they read newspapers? Or weren’t those newspapers not informing their readers what is going on in the world?

After the onset of the economic crisis I observed with some astonishment that Namibia
was rising their trophy fees and the daily rates for guided hunts as well.

And when I look at the offerings of various operates the prices have not been lowered yet. OK, those are the official prices. Perhaps – given the present situation and the fact that the hunting season 2011 is nearing its end – with a little haggling perhaps lower prices just might be possible.

Cheers, Hans

quote:

Originally posted by HJ wild:
After the onset of the economic crisis I observed with some astonishment that Namibia
was rising their trophy fees and the daily rates for guided hunts as well.

Several years ago Namibia was one of the more reasonable places to go and I was planning to make it my next safari destination. Then, as you note, the prices went up to as much or more than RSA which, along with the fact there is no handgun hunting there, made me choose RSA and perhaps Mozambique for my next destination.

Damn South Afrikaans,,,,first they would not let their "protectorate" have independence, now they are illegally killing its wildlife.....nasty bunch there....

Is Marina Lamprecht parent of Joff Lamprecht who ask 35.000 US for a Roan hunt in the Waterberg National Park?

Yes, I believe that to be correct.

the announcement makes more sense now. "Our family needs the $$$..."

Follow the money...