“The region is stark and hostile, but in the early morning and late afternoon light, when the basalt rocks turn to the color of rust, and the distant mountains to soft shades of purple and blue, it can also be breathtakingly beautiful.”
– Garth Owen-Smith, Arid Eden
Covering the whole life and work of a young man trying to find his way in southern African and his eventual success in community-based natural resource management in rural northwestern Namibia, this is the story of a love affair with the land sine the first time he laid eyes on it. Perhaps a difficult or long read for some, I found the story intriguing and page-turning about his exploratory adventures with people and wildlife in remote and unknown areas. He was ever observant and thoughtfully immersed in the world around him.
“I was alive – in fact more than alive. The adrenaline rush I had just experienced jolted my system like some mind bending drug – and it would prove just as addictive.” – GOS after a close wildlife encounter
Owen-Smith appreciated Namibia’s wildlife and scenery for it’s intrinsic value, however in a world where the locals were beginning to require money in a newly commercialized society, the wildlife needed to provide an economic benefit as well. Tourism and trophy hunting in community-managed conservancies seems to be the winning combination in the region as they saw wildlife increase in this true, unfenced wilderness.
“In the western world, where benefits are defined by their monetary value, we often fail to see that ownership over an asset is an equally important human motivator for responsible behavior.” – Garth Owen-Smith, Arid Eden
The key to this conservation success story is the involvement of the local communities that live with the wildlife. Their ownership over the land and wildlife assets has empowered the communities.
“If you believe in a cause and are prepared to stand up for it with passion and perseverance, you can make a difference. Conserving our natural environment will not make you materially rich but there is no greater satisfaction than having made our planet a better place to live on, even if it is just in a very small way.” – Garth Owen-Smith, Arid Eden
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. If you could explore a wilderness area on foot where would you choose?
2. Are their any nature conservation issues that your community faces? Any human-wildlife conflicts?
MORE INFORMATION:
Stories from Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation
Etendeka Mountain Camp
Skeleton Coast Safaris
Palmwag Campsite
Namibia’s CBNRM policy PDF
