Breaking down fences: Recoupling social–ecological systems for biodiversity conservation in Namibia

摘要: Abstract Herero communities in northern Namibia recently formed the Ehi-rovipuka Conservancy under a national Community-Based Natural Resource Management Programme (CBNRM) that has received international acclaim for wildlife conservation and poverty alleviation. Nearly century ago ancestors of were ousted from Etosha National Park, contiguous to Conservancy. The have been denied access ever since. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods employed elucidate relationships their communal conservancy with Park. Memory mapping villager interviews revealed profound sense lost traditional territory inside strong desire return not harvest but restore cultural practices reap certain benefits We term separation as ‘decoupling’ people local environment. further suggest potential villagers identify Park represent mechanisms ‘recoupling’ social–ecological systems, requiring literal figurative breakdown fence. describe model illustrate decoupling recoupling mechanisms, argue recoupled systems are necessary long-term biodiversity. collaborative landscape biodiversity featuring institutional linkages integration between community-conserved areas, integrated corridors connectivity, dynamic, mobile reserves collaboratively parks management. This may applicability similar regions elsewhere low population densities, high species endemism prevailing or emerging threats