The Kunene Region in Namibia is home to the world?s only black rhino population to have survived on communal lands without formal conservation status. These rhinos are also the only desert ecotype population of black rhinos. Unfortunately, the growth rate of this black rhino population (3.27%) is well below the IUCN/SSC African Rhino Specialist Group?s healthy growth rate (5% or more).

The Kunene black rhino population represents a valuable opportunity to conserve biodiversity as well as improve local livelihoods. Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) wants to help local communities develop and expand rhino conservancies on communal lands. These conservancies will increase ecotourism, and reconcile biological management with regional Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) goals.

GEF?s Small Grants Programme allocated a planning grant to Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). This planning grant permits SRT to involve local leaders, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and other local NGOs, in project planning. Based on new input from these stakeholders, SRT will submit a revised project proposal to the National Steering Committee on September 16, 2003.