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Managing private, commercial rangelands for agricultural production and wildlife diversity in Namibia and Zambia

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Abstract

The private game industry has grown across Africa since the mid-20th century. While considerable research has documented wildlife production on commercial land in many eastern and southern African countries, few studies have focused specifically on the integration of livestock and game production in Namibia and Zambia. This paper reports a survey of 43 commercial conservancy members in Namibia and 23 game farmers in Zambia conducted between September 2004 and June 2005. The survey was based on inductive sampling theory and queried farmers on how they have integrated wildlife production into their management practices. Farmers in each country reported considerable integration of wildlife conservation and agricultural production. Namibian farmers reported substantial problems with bush encroachment, whereas none of their Zambian counterparts raised similar complaints. This paper describes the state of rangeland management on commercial farms in Namibia and Zambia and identifies important areas where further research can contribute to the enhancement of this conservation-production system.

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Acknowledgements

Firstly, I recognize the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship program for funding my year abroad conducting this research. I am indebted to many people across southern Africa for supporting my work, including all of the farmers who participated in this survey and assisted me with transportation and lodging. In Namibia: the CANAM Executive Committee; L. and S. Boldt, H. de Haast, B. Rogl, P. Heimsted, D. von Leipzig, P. Schaepe; L. Marker and the CCF; everyone at the DRFN and Gobabeb; and the Chameleon Backpackers. In Zambia: the WPAZ; I. and E. Bruce-Miller for so much assistance and hospitality; R. Michelson for Lusaka accommodations; and R. Clydes-Anderson for a replacement hooter. The Brown University Center for Environmental Studies supported data analysis and literature review. This work depended on critical development from many of the people and groups above, in addition to M. Kirkwood, L. Wright Morton, L. Gayton, and D. Engle.

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  1. Devan Allen McGranahan

    Present address: Iowa State University, 339 Science II, Ames, IA, 50010, USA

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  1. Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Devan Allen McGranahan

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Correspondence to Devan Allen McGranahan.

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McGranahan, D. Managing private, commercial rangelands for agricultural production and wildlife diversity in Namibia and Zambia. Biodivers Conserv 17, 1965–1977 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9339-y

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