Conservation Partnerships

1 CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS

to combat wildlife crime

Demonstrating the benefits of strong conservation partnerships 2 3 There is always somebody somewhere ... Partnerships are at the forefront of combatting wildlife crime

There is always somebody somewhere willing to poach; SIX KEY INGREDIENTS TO COMBAT WILDLIFE CRIME IN NAMIBIA there is always some animal in some place vulnerable; • Strong partnership networks • Active sharing of information and other resources if there is a market*, someone will try to supply it • Strategic planning and innovative action • Fast and flexible funding • Use of all available technologies & tools • Ongoing adaptation to changing threats and needs (*a market being an opportunity to make money). ORGANISATIONS COLLABORATING IN NAMIBIA:

Criminals adapt when things get difficult. Namibian government Rural communities Anti-Corruption Commission – ACC Communal conservancies Financial Intelligence Centre – FIC Communal farmers An increasing range of species is targeted; Ministry of Defence – MD Freehold conservancies Namibian Defence Force – NDF Freehold farmers new areas are constantly sought; Namibian Army Rhino custodians Ministry of Environment & Tourism – MET Wildlife Protection Services Unit – WPSU Non-Government Organisations intricate criminal syndicates operate across borders and the globe. Intelligence & Investigations Unit – IIU Integrated Rural Development & Nature Conservation – IRDNC Game Products Trust Fund – GPTF Intelligence Support Against Poaching – ISAP Ministry of Finance – MF Legal Assistance Centre – LAC Directorate Customs & Excise Namibia Nature Foundation – NNF Combatting wildlife crime is extremely difficult and complex. Ministry of Home Affairs & Immigration – MHAI Rooikat Trust Ministry of Justice – MJ Save the Rhino Trust – SRT Ministry of Safety & Security – MSS WWF In Namibia Wildlife crime is an economic crime. Namibian Police Force – Nampol Protected Resources Division – PRD Umbrella organisations No cure-all solutions exist. Serious Crime Unit – SCU Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations – NACSO Special Field Force – SFF Namibian Chamber of Environment – NCE Office of the Attorney-General – AG Office of the Prosecutor-General – PG Industry Business community When government, NGOs, the private sector and civil society International linkages Mining industry Governments of Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia & Zimbabwe Tourism & conservation-hunting industries work together at local, regional and global levels to enforce the law, International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime – ICCWC Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora – CITES International funding agencies Interpol Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs, USA – INL wildlife crime becomes risky to the point of dissuading criminals United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime – UNODC Global Environment Facility – GEF World Bank Group – WBG Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau – KfW and impacts can be reduced to levels that no longer threaten species. World Customs Organisation – WCO United States Agency for International Development – USAID Wildcat Foundation WWF Photo: Okonjima Nature Reserve 4 5 Namibia country brief A history of restoration – countering a legacy of decimation

Since independence, Namibia has actively nurtured a culture of collaboration, ANGOLA ZAMBIA especially in the conservation sector. This has enabled environmental restoration and wide scale wildlife recoveries – countering a colonial legacy of decimation. ZIMBABWE The systems are not perfect. Conservation efforts can still be strengthened and law enforcement improved. Some natural resource sectors still require urgent attention (e.g. forestry, fisheries).

NAMIBIA Pre-Independence Post-Independence NAMIBIA • Decimation of large wildlife in 1700s & 1800s • Biodiversity conservation & sustainable use entrenched in • White rhino locally extinct in Namibia before 1900 constitution of Namibia Area 824,093 km2 (reduced to < 50 animals in South Africa by 1895) • Inclusive conservation legislation in mid-1990s Freehold land ± 43% • Black rhino reduced to remote, isolated populations • Rights over wildlife for communal farmers through Communal land ± 37% WINDHOEK • Elephant reduced to remote, isolated populations formation of communal conservancies in mid-1990s, BOTSWANA • Large predators reduced to remote, isolated populations leading to recovery of wildlife on communal land People ± 2,500,000 • Targeted rebuilding of wildlife populations through • Apartheid isolated Namibia & South Africa from the government–NGO–community partnerships Elephants > 20,000 international community • Reintroduction of white rhino to state parks & freehold Rhinos < 2,000 • Homeland policies isolated communities land (private ownership possible) Lions < 800 • Very limited economic development in homelands • Growth & range expansion of black rhino through Rhino Pangolins ? • No access to or benefits from wildlife Custodianship Scheme (government retains ownership) • No incentives to conserve natural resources • Natural growth & range expansion of elephant State conservation areas ± 19.6% • No input into conservation decisions (± 7,000 in 1995 to > 20,000 today) (includes Namibian portion of KAZA) • Natural growth & range expansion of lion Community conservation areas ± 21.9% • Growth of government conservation structures & • Rebuilding of populations of most historically occurring Other formal conservation structures ± 7.3% expansion of protected areas from 1950s, leading to species in national parks, on freehold & communal land Total land with formal conservation status ± 48.7% recovery of rare species in parks • Viable populations of almost all historically occurring large • Rights over wildlife for freehold farmers in 1960s, leading mammals Independence of Namibia 21 March 1990 SOUTH AFRICA to recovery of wildlife on freehold land South African (apartheid) administration 1921-1990 • Rampant poaching for ivory & rhino horn in 1970s & ‘80s The widespread conservation successes since independence German colony 1884-1915 (with South African apartheid military involvement) were enabled through strong partnerships between • Start of community game guard system to combat government, international funding agencies, local NGOs, poaching in 1980s tourism & conservation-hunting industries & rural communities. 6 7 The poaching explosion of the new millennium – in Namibia An ancient practice with a modern edge

The trade in ivory, rhino horn and other wildlife products is an ancient practice, with a modern criminal edge. Wildlife products are not new commodities (although new uses are being promoted, especially in food and medicine). Through international treaties and national legislation, a clear distinction has been made between legal wildlife use and wildlife crime. Combatting wildlife crime is a fight against ancient markets and entrenched supply chains – now with huge illicit profits.

Namibia has been increasingly targeted Rhino and elephant poaching in Africa ...... and poaching in Namibia • Rhino poaching rampant across Africa from 1970s • Rampant poaching of elephant & black rhino in 1970s & by organised poaching syndicates since 2012, • Reduction of black rhino population from ± 100,000 in ‘80s with South African (apartheid) military involvement leading to a rapid escalation 1960 to ± 2,500 in 1995 • Start of community conservation programme in 1980s of rhino and elephant poaching • Angola, Botswana & Zambia rhinos reduced to remnant • Active rebuilding of most wildlife populations over past populations, Zimbabwe rhino severely impacted three decades, including elephant, rhinos, lion, leopard, and increasing poaching and trafficking • South Africa & Namibia initially little affected, enabling cheetah, hyaenas, giraffe, antelopes, crocodile of other species significant rebuilding of populations in these countries • Commercial poaching reduced to negligible levels after over past three decades independence • South Africa targeted from 2007 • Namibia increasingly targeted by poaching syndicates • Namibia targeted from 2012 from 2012 • Rapid escalation of rhino & elephant poaching • Elephant poaching rampant across Africa in 1970s & 80s • Increasing poaching/trafficking of other species • Some population recoveries in 1990s • Namibian pangolin poaching recognized as major • Renewed poaching onslaught since 2005 problem from 2014 (pangolin believed to be most • Continental population estimates prior to 1990 patchy, trafficked wild animal in the world); current status of but show rapid decline Namibian pangolin population uncertain • Southern African populations healthy & increasing in • Lion, leopard & cheetah targeted (regular confiscation recent decades of skins) • Continental population estimated to have decreased by • Reptiles, esp. crocodile, snakes & tortoises targeted up to 30% in last decade • Birds & bird’s eggs targeted (e.g. carmine bee-eaters at colonies) Southern Africa and Namibia have clearly become targets • Indigenous/endemic plants targeted for both live trade since poaching in other areas has become less profitable & timber 8 9 Namibia’s response to the crisis A timeline of mobilisation

2010 First rhino poaching awareness meetings in 2016 NGOSS established & specialist staff employed response to poaching increase in South Africa 2016 National needs assessment undertaken, resulting in 2011 Rhino Ranger Incentive Programme to appoint & INL funding (2 yrs) to support government & train local rhino rangers initiated in Erongo– NGO activities to combat wildlife crime Kunene by SRT, IRDNC, NNF & Minnesota Zoo 2016 MET helicopter purchased through private funding 2012 First rhino & elephant poaching cases in Namibia; 2016 Cellebrite digital forensics technology secured initial disjointed efforts by private sector, NGOs & 2016 Kunene Rhino Pride Campaign initiated in Erongo– government Kunene by SRT, IRDNC & Minnesota Zoo to 2012-18 Various civil society initiatives including ISAP, engage with rural communities some with limited stakeholder engagement & 2016-17 MET Wildlife Protection Services Unit & mixed results Intelligence & Investigations Unit created & staffed 2013-15 Exploration of technical measures, information 2017 USAID Combatting Wildlife Crime Project initiated, networks & innovative actions to counter wildlife focussing on KAZA & Namibia (5 yrs) crime by MET & NGOs with Google funding 2017 WWF, NNF & LAC partner to support 2014-17 Waterberg Law Enforcement & Training Centre investigations & prosecutions with INL-2 funding established & various technical support provided 2017 NCE initiates pangolin reward scheme through MET’s GEF funded PASS project 2017 Change in national wildlife laws to significantly 2015 Discovery of high number of rhino carcasses in increase penalties for serious wildlife crimes Etosha, some dating back a year or more 2017 Rooikat Trust established to support investigations 2015 MET urges NGOs & civil society to collaborate & prosecutions with funding from Wildcat to coordinate anti-poaching efforts Foundation 2015-18 Numerous public demonstrations & awareness 2018 Operation Blue Rhino initiated, formalising campaigns to highlight plight of rhinos collaboration between Nampol PRD & SCU & 2016 Deployment of Nampol SFF & NDF in Etosha & MET IIU, endorsed by Nampol Inspector General, northeastern parks to support rare species with dedicated staff seconded to operations, with protection support from NDF & FIC 2016 Development of MET law enforcement strategy in 2018 NNF & SRT, WWF & Rooikat support anti-poaching, consultation with NGOs investigations & prosecutions with INL-3 funding 2016 Cabinet creates National Wildlife Security 2018 Rooikat Trust supports dedicated state prosecutors Committee (9 ministries represented) for wildlife crime cases with funding from 2016 WWF secures funding (3 yrs) to support various Wildcat Foundation rhino conservation & security activities & create 2018 Patrol effort of Erongo–Kunene Rhino Rangers & Ready for crisis? Not immediately ... NGO Support Structure (NGOSS) to serve MET partners increased to 1,200% of 2012 levels, when But since clear roles and strategies have been defined, & conservation NGOs poaching began (no cases recorded in area in 2018) Namibia has created effective systems with impressive results. 10 11 A complex juggling act of collaboration The sharp teeth of strategic interventions

Conservation of rare and valuable COMMUNITY species, such as pangolin, rhino and TECHNICAL NATIONAL TRAINING MOBILISATION elephant, is a juggling act, easily upset PENALTIES SUPPORT PRIDE by the impacts of wildlife crime. LEGAL INVESTIGATION PROSECUTION FLEXIBLE CRIME ECONOMIC These species are already affected FUNDING PROSECUTION PREVENTION INCENTIVES CONSERVATION ANTI-POACHING by habitat fragmentation, indiscriminate killing (pangolin), LAW human–wildlife conflict ENFORCEMENT DATA Building the foundations Consolidating partnerships and systems INFORMATION (elephant) and international ANALYSIS • Decades of community-based conservation result in • Strengthening of partnerships between government, significant community benefits, pride & trust NGOs, CBOs, private sector & rural communities pressures inhibiting their • Decades of strengthening conservation partnerships, • Active collaboration between all relevant agencies conservation value (rhinos and result in sound conservation systems within government elephant). Reduced conservation • Sustainable use strengthens the value of wildlife • Long-term partnerships with funding agencies • Active rebuilding of wildlife populations results in • Active collaboration between field staff & rural rewards increase the difficulties CRIME REWARDS LEGISLATION PREVENTION healthy populations of historically occurring species communities of anti-poaching efforts. By • Strong support from rural communities (information) Countering the crisis • Active collaboration between law enforcement & ensuring broad awareness of the • Full government commitment with NGO, CBO, private judiciary (strong prosecution cases) complexity of conservation sector & civil society support • Broad public support (awareness, public pressure, and law enforcement, linkages and • Evaluation of threats & needs funding) • Creation of linkages & partnerships • Identification & addressing of clear funding targets, partnerships are strengthened • Rapid increase in targeted law-enforcement efforts training & equipment needs & gaps and the juggling act can be FUNDING CONSERVATION • Short-term funding solutions through collaboration • Increasingly effective investigations, law enforcement & turned into a stable structure between government, NGOs, private sector & prosecutions resulting in appropriate penalties TRAINING international funding agencies • Parallel conservation & law enforcement efforts that ensures healthy wildlife • Awareness creation amongst judiciary of seriousness & populations – and healthy impacts of wildlife crime Expanding international linkages • Awareness creation amongst rural communities of • Increasing law-enforcement collaboration with livelihoods. livelihood impacts of wildlife crime neighbouring countries AWARENESS • Use of all available technologies • Strengthening of all international conservation & law • Flexible funding immediately available for interventions enforcement linkages 12 13 Partnerships from the field to the courtroom to the global arena ... Namibia’s many-tiered collaboration for cross-cutting results

AWARENESS

LAW ENFORCEMENT PROSECUTION

INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION LOCAL FUNDING SUPPORT FUNDING SUPPORT

TECHNICAL SUPPORT TRAINING GOVERNMENT FUNDING

INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM ON COMBATTING WILDLIFE CRIME

INTERNATIONAL FUNDING AGENCIES INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION AGENCIES

NAMIBIAN NATIONAL WILDLIFE SECURITY COMMITTEE

WILDLIFE CRIME STEERING COMMITTEE NGO SUPPORT STRUCTURE

MINISTRY OF FINANCE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS & IMMIGRATION DIRECTORATE CUSTOMS & EXCISE

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE PROSECUTOR GENERAL

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE

MINISTRY OF SAFETY & SECURITY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY OF DEFENCE NAMIBIAN POLICE FORCE DIRECTORATE PARKS & WILDLIFE NAMIBIAN DEFENCE FORCE PRD CID WPSU IIU

LOCAL CONSERVATION NGOs PRIVATE SECTOR

NAMIBIAN PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

PARK STAFF COMMUNAL CONSERVANCIES RHINO CUSTODIANS Photo: Namibian Partnerships Against Crime Photo: Namibian Partnerships 14 15 Partnerships across all sectors are making a clear difference ... Namibian partnerships keys

SIX KEYS TO UNLOCKING PARTNERSHIPS IN NAMIBIA • Comprehensive government engagement • Full acknowledgement of the contribution of all stakeholders • Cascading personal trust from funding agency directors to field personnel • Clear roles and responsibilities at all levels • Active sharing of information and other resources • Flexible funding and minimal red tape

PARTNERSHIPS ARE ABOUT RECOGNITION, FLEXIBILITY AND TRUST

Recognising the individual Flexible funding • Clear delegation of personal responsibility • Minimal restrictions on use of funds • Respect for the role of each person • Immediate mobilisation of funds for action or reward, • Acknowledgement of the value of each contribution directly to field operation level • Due rewards for effort & risk • Healthy mix of funding between government, international & local funds Clear, acknowledged roles of all stakeholders • Clear overall funding structure that coordinates funding • Recognition of defined roles at both individual & sources & targets & identifies gaps organisational levels • Recognition of importance of transboundary collaboration Awareness, training and technical support • Recognition of importance of international linkages • Pride in both conservation & collaboration • Acknowledgement of the value of each contribution • Clear understanding of aims • Clear understanding of capacity & funding needs Formalised collaboration • Timeous addressing of capacity or funding gaps • Full support to the mandate of government to act as the primary law enforcement entity TRUST • Acknowledged collaboration between all conservation • Trust in the integrity & competence of the individual & law enforcement entities • Trust in the integrity & competence of each institution • Formalised regional collaboration • Trust in the suitability of strategies & actions • Formalised international collaboration • Trust in the strength of partnerships 16 17 Technologies & tools ...... and how they are being used in Namibia

RISKY LOW HIGH INCREASE EFFORT REWARDS PENALTIES CONSERVATION GAINS

FIRM REDUCE WILDLIFE STRONG DIVERSE LAW CRITICAL CRIME SUPPORT REWARDS ENFORCEMENT POPULATION IMPACTS PIVOT

The overall objective is to ensure healthy wildlife populations through effective conservation and law enforcement

Field information Reduced crime rewards and appropriate penalties • Monitoring & surveillance • Appropriate fines & prison sentences • Anonymous community reporting • Refusal of bail whenever possible • Investigation information • Blocking of local markets & international routes Forensics Conservation incentives • Crime scene analysis • Conducive legislation to motivate conservation • DNA analysis • Market incentives for wildlife management • Digital intelligence • Technical support structures • Financial intelligence Targeted training Monitoring, analysis and planning tools • Waterberg Law Enforcement & Training Centre • UNODC Wildlife & Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit • Field training & national workshops • Namibian Wildlife Crime Database Analysis Tool • International training & exchange (interactive mapping, identification of patterns, hotspots) General awareness creation • Crime prediction & response • Conservation & law enforcement awareness of threats Strategic and flexible funding • Rural community pride & involvement • Funding Control & Management Tool • Awareness of the distinction between wildlife crime and • Wildlife Crimes Budget Manager legal wildlife use • Direct field funding mechanisms • General public awareness & support 18 19 Some Namibian statistics ...... and what they show

Carcasses RHNO CARCA OND eiures PANGON R RHINO POACHING PANGOLIN TRAFFICKING 0 100 rongounene Community Conservation Area kins • Once poaching began, rapid escalation occurred, • Increased pangolin trafficking (live & skins) was tosha & other national parks 0 ive animals total 9 indicating initially easy targets recognised from 2014, but initially difficult to counter reehold land 0 0 • Establishment of strong partnerships & systems enabled • A targeted awareness campaign & reward scheme for increasingly effective responses information leading to arrests shows impressive results 0 0 • Coordinated effort clearly reduced impacts, first in from its inception in 2017 total 1 0 Erongo–Kunene, then Etosha (Etosha has the highest • A system of monitoring & releasing recovered live total number of rhinos in Namibia & will always be a target) pangolins is in place 0 total 0 total 1 • Impacts have shifted to easier targets elsewhere • Other wildlife products (especially predator skins) are 20 • Impacts on freehold land are now showing a rapid often being seized during pangolin operations, indicating 20 increase & need immediate attention an increasing threat to other species 10 total 11 • Overall impacts have remained high at 50 or more total 2 0 animals over the last five years 0 2012 201 201 201 201 201 201 2012 201 201 201 201 201 201

ARRESTS FIREARM SEIZURES

Arrests D CRM ARRT eiures RARM R all categories • The 2015 increase in arrests is related to the discovery • The establishment of Operation Blue Rhino & increased 0 0 of rampant rhino poaching in Etosha law enforcement efforts clearly show results

00 • The establishment of dedicated operations units & • Other weapons, vehicles, tools & other items (knives, 0 coordinated law enforcement efforts clearly show machetes, hacksaws etc.) are also being seized 20 results from 2017 onwards 0 • Arrest often include the seizure of illicit items, especially 200 ivory, rhino horn & weapons; it is not always easy to 0 10 confirm the origin of these, making the analysis of ivory & rhino horn data very complex 20 100

0 10 Notes 0 0 Statistics of poaching impacts are particularly difficult to represent, as not all cases are recorded, or there may be a 2012 201 201 201 201 201 201 2012 201 201 201 201 201 201 significant time lag between a poaching event and its discovery (sometimes of years). Arrests and seizures can indicate an increase in law enforcement, an increase in criminal activity, or a combination of both. 20 21 The future ... ? Some identified needs, opportunities and threats

History shows a grim picture of leapfrogging decimation, intervention and rebuilding of populations – followed by renewed decimation in ever-diminishing cycles. Conservation, law enforcement and crime prevention need to become much more innovative, effective and deeply entrenched to ensure the safeguarding of biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

Understand evolving crime Expand collaboration to other sectors • Crime methods are continually & rapidly evolving • Improve private sector protection of valuable species • Crime focus always shifts to areas of least resistance through increased collaboration • While many markets are culturally entrenched, new • Expand law enforcement effectiveness across all Namibian markets are also being established environmental sectors (e.g. forestry, fisheries) to safeguard • Wildlife crime must be recognised as an economic crime habitats & improve overall environmental health • Target local linkages with other crime sectors (drugs, Motivate conservation efforts money laundering etc.) • Balance the high cost & risk of conservation with more diverse rewards, especially outside parks Increase international collaboration • Maximise the economic, social & cultural values of wildlife • Increase impacts higher up the crime chain (traffic • Highlight the distinction between legal and illegal wildlife use routes, end markets) through international collaboration • Strengthen national sense of pride & environmental identity • Target international linkages with other crime sectors (drugs, money laundering etc.) Improve crime prevention • Use the legislation of the Prevention of Organised • Improve pre-emptive action that intercepts criminals Crime Act more effectively before losses occur • Ensure that conservation & law enforcement • Expand & integrate the use of all available technologies partnerships reach from wildlife in its environment to • Improve data collection & analysis & share information the destination countries & end markets more actively to enable more proactive interventions

We need to reduce the funds & effort spent on combatting wildlife crime and free these for conservation and human development. 22 23 Why do we need partnerships against crime? ... and what options are there for additional action and support?

WE NEED PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE ...

Criminals have an edge Partnerships remove the edge by ... • They can act without rules & regulations • Significantly increasing the risk for criminals, especially • They strike quickly when its suits them (at night, on when faced with a vigilant civil society public holidays etc.) • Sharing the workload & costs of conservation & law • They get direct, individual rewards for their efforts enforcement • They can operate beyond all boundaries • Sharing information & other resources • They can get rich quickly • Facilitating improved collaboration within organisations • Enabling joint action between agencies & across Authorities can be cumbersome boundaries • They need to adhere to rules & regulations • Greatly increasing flexibility & reducing reaction time • They often have inflexible structures & systems • Enabling a consolidated conservation & law • Individuals are often not recognised, salaries are often enforcement effort too low & rewards are indirect • Improving conservation outcomes while reducing • Working across boundaries is challenging wildlife crime

... WE CAN ALL MAKE A CONTRIBUTION

What individuals can do What funding agencies can do • Publicly condemn all illegal activities • Work together to ensure funding needs are met • Never buy dubious or illegal animal or plant products • Provide targeted funding to fill gaps • Report any suspicious activities • Ensure that reporting requirements don’t inhibit efficiency • Support all legal activities that strengthen conservation • Provide support at local, regional & global levels (tourism, conservation hunting, indigenous plant products)

What conservation organisations can do What governments can do • Work together to strengthen conservation results • Make conservation of biodiversity a national priority • Create strong linkages with international organisations • Treat wildlife crime as an economic crime • Ensure enough funding reaches field operations • Improve inter-ministerial collaboration & information sharing • Ensure full support of government mandates • Promote partnerships between all sectors • Reinforce the distinction between legal and illegal wildlife use • Share information as widely as possible • Share information as widely as possible • Curb corruption 2 A publication of: Namibian Partnerships Against Crime 2019

Namibian Partnerships Against Crime is a broad collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, private sector, rural communities, international funding agencies and the public. All constructive input and collaboration are welcomed.

The production of this brochure was coordinated by the Rooikat Trust and funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs, USA