Monitoring and evaluation
Information is required by managers at the macro, meso, and micro levels to inform land-use and development planning, assist in developing appropriate HWC management strategies and in order to adapt strategies and actions over time as data indicates what works and why.
The variation in the characteristics of HWC across Namibia complicates the use of one standardised monitoring system (Stander 2005), however there is clearly a need for some consistency in approach. Stander found “alarming discrepancies” between the MET data base and the Event Book System (which is operated by conservancies) where for some species there were hundreds of records in the one system, but none in the other.
He suggests the Event Book System is the most reliable and also notes that the data being produced by the HACSIS scheme in some conservancies is similar or better as it is able to provide a spatial perception of the impact on the community, identifying hot spots.
Different types of information are required by managers at different levels. There is a need to identify these needs and develop data bases that are appropriate and accessible at each level. For example at conservancy level, data should be gathered that assists the conservancy and its support agencies in developing its local land-use plan and HWC Management Plan and implementing it according to local priorities.
At the other end of the scale, MET at HQ level, requires an overview of HWC in the country as a whole, the number of incidents, costs of damage, species involved etc.
The variation in the characteristics of HWC across Namibia complicates the use of one standardised monitoring system (Stander 2005), however there is clearly a need for some consistency in approach. Stander found “alarming discrepancies” between the MET data base and the Event Book System (which is operated by conservancies) where for some species there were hundreds of records in the one system, but none in the other.
He suggests the Event Book System is the most reliable and also notes that the data being produced by the HACSIS scheme in some conservancies is similar or better as it is able to provide a spatial perception of the impact on the community, identifying hot spots.
Different types of information are required by managers at different levels. There is a need to identify these needs and develop data bases that are appropriate and accessible at each level. For example at conservancy level, data should be gathered that assists the conservancy and its support agencies in developing its local land-use plan and HWC Management Plan and implementing it according to local priorities.
At the other end of the scale, MET at HQ level, requires an overview of HWC in the country as a whole, the number of incidents, costs of damage, species involved etc.
Page from the Event Book to record incidents with problem animals. Kwandu Conservancy, East Caprivi, Namibia.
