Paper short abstract:

This study used interviews to assess the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 on tourism and and wildlife conservation in Anabeb and Sesfontein Communal Conservancies in Namibia. The findings of the study reveal that reduced tourists arrivals negatively impacted the local communities in various ways.

Paper long abstract:

In Namibia, the government introduced the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programme in the 1990s. The CBNRM programme resulted in the formation of Communal Conservancies (CCs) among local communities in most rural areas in Namibia. Through the CCs, local communities are granted rights over wildlife and other natural resources. The CCs are aimed at promoting socio-economic development of local communities through wildlife conservation-related economic activities. The CCs are also based on the premise that tourism would provide income and jobs to local community members and this would increase their tolerance towards wildlife and support for wildlife conservation. Namibia’s Communal Conservancies programme has been depicted as one of the most successful in Africa and is often implemented through tourism which depended on international tourists. One of the main effects of COVID-19 and its preventive measures has been an almost total collapse of international tourist visits to Namibia. Using interviews, this study assessed the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 on local communities and wildlife conservation programmes in Anabeb and Sesfontein Communal Conservancies in Namibia. The findings of the study reveal that the local communities suffered various negative socio-economic impacts on their livelihoods as a result of Covid-19. The Covid-19 also negatively affected wildlife conservation programmes. Although Covid-19 is most likely to continue presenting changing dynamics as time goes, conclusions can be drawn that reduction in tourism-generated income affected most people who depend on tourism. Serious interventions are required in order to save local communities’ livelihoods and wildlife conservations programmes.