Identifying ecological sustainability assessment factors for ecotourism and trophy hunting operations on private rangeland in Namibia

Trophy hunting and ecotourism are important forms of sustainable utilisation in the human-impacted, working landscapes outside of formal parks and reserves. Research on the sustainability of such tourism operations, however, has focused on the financial viability of tourism operators, rather than environmental effects. The report examines the sustainability strength of wildlife utilisation on private rangelands in Namibia in terms of ecological impact. Three emergent themes from the data included differences in tourist versus hunting operations; attitudes and perceptions of the administration of conservation efforts; and the co-management of livestock and wildlife, especially farm economics and game-proof fencing. Full article available here.