Decentralization can bring benefits. Devolving power over wildlife management to the local level can increase the local stake in good management, bringing benefits to both wildlife and local economies. The success of Namibia’s decentralization effort was aided by grounding it firmly in law—the 1996 Nature Conservation Act—and through the active promotion by government, donors, and NGOs.

Conservation benefits follow livelihood benefits. Conservancies gain broad support and community compliance when they demonstrate a connection with greater income. Benefits to wildlife, in the form of reduced poaching, follow quickly. A combination of short-term community benefits such as bush meat and cash payouts may be necessary as longer term development gains such as better infrastructure and a more diverse local economy slowly manifest.

Targeting the poor takes work. Conservancies have a fairly good record in terms of the equity of benefits distribution. But many need help in more directly targeting benefits to the poor. Performance indicators and distribution guidelines for conservancy committees may help.

Tenure remains a challenge. Devolution of user rights to wildlife may not be enough to sustainably manage conservancies over the long term or to maximize poverty reduction. Granting conservancies fuller tenure rights would give them the ability to better control access to conservancy lands, more effectively manage grazing pressures, and reduce conflicts.

Direct accountability needed. Conservancies can capitalize on their proven record and increase their broadbased support by making local conservancy committees more fully accountable and working to give conservancy members a stronger voice in decisions. Increasing the proportion of local community members that identify themselves as conservancy members is one important element of long-term viability.

Mature Institutions Take Time. Building the technical and governing capacity of local institutions such as conservancy committees takes time and requires steady financial and technical support. Local NGOs specially constituted to play this support role can play a vital part in institution-building, and in helping to construct and execute a workable business model for conservancy enterprises.