Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism has allocated N$21.9m (€1.4m) of its 2018/19 budget to tourism development and gaming regulations, placing ever-increasing focus on wildlife crime and tourism development. This news was revealed by Minister Pohamba Shifeta during his motivation for the ministry’s budget allocation in the country’s National Assembly last week.

Shifeta noted that 32 rhinos were poached in 2017, down from 61 in 2016. Figures reveal a similar drop in elephant poaching numbers as well.

The ministry has been allocated N$402m (€27.7m) for this financial year and has pledged to dedicate a percentage of this to its continued efforts to combat wildlife crime. Shifeta said that “although there is decline in poaching of rhinos and elephants, the government will continue to fund efforts aimed at reducing poaching levels to insignificant levels to protect the country’s national heritage”.

He said he intended the ministry’s attention to be on creating long-term sustainability, good governance and proper management of community-based natural resources management programmes for the benefit of all people.

In keeping with this focus, two major pieces of legislation – Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975 and the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act of 2008 – have been amended to allow for harsher penalties for crimes related to wildlife and wildlife products.