Abstract: Abstract
Aggregate estimates for wildlife populations and species diversity on private land in Namibia
were made for 1972 and 1992, using questionnaire surveys. Numbers of species and biomass
appear to have increased by some 80 percent, or three percent per annum over the period. The
number of game species recorded increased by 44 percent. Cost – benefit analysis models were
developed and used to analyse economic and financial efficiency of land use involving wildlife
on private land. Financial profitability was generally low with both livestock – game production
for consumptive use and wildlife production for non-consumptive use. However these activities
appear to be economically efficient, and result in a positive contribution to National Income.
The results suggest that there are financial incentives for private landholders to group together
and form large scale conservancies. The latter benefit from economies of scale which make them
more financially profitable and robust, and also more economically efficient, than ranches.
Wildlife production for non-consumptive wildlife viewing was found to yield greater economic
net value added per unit of land than livestock – wildlife production for consumptive use. This
was particularly the case at the larger conservancy scale of operation. Aggregate estimates, in
1994 prices, of the annual net value added to National Income from wildlife use on private land
are N$ 30.6 million in 1972 and N$ 56 million in 1992. The economic value of wildlife use as a
proportion of the economic value of all private land rangeland uses appears to have risen from
five percent to eleven percent over the twenty year period. Current policy to promote the
development of wildlife conservancies appears to be economically sound, particularly where
these are aimed at eventual conversion to wildlife-based tourism uses.
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