African Wildlife & Environment Issue 82

CONSERVATION

FURTHER INFORMATIONABOUT WINNERS Hans Haoseb, rhino ranger for //Huab Conservancy, Kunene Region

“Each of these first winners embody what Garth spent his life promoting: local skills developed and put to work at field level, long-term dedication and commitment. GOSCARs winners spend much of their time on foot in difficult terrain and uncomfortable circumstances, to protect and better manage wildlife for the benefit of conservancy members now and in the future. “The winners hold positions of trust and responsibility and are passing on their knowledge to younger generations. Each of them is a humble man, as was Garth, and they show that an ordinary local person can perform extraordinary work for conservation.” Dr Jacobsohn was founding co-director, with Garth Owen-Smith, of Namibia’s largest field-based NGO – Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) and a founding member of NACSO – the Namibian Association of CBNRM Support Organisations. In their time the couple won some of the world’s top conservation awards; subsequently many other Namibians working in the community-conservation field have received international and local awards for outstanding work. The GOSCARs panel includes the Hon Beaven Munali, former IRDNC Assistant Director and retired Chairman of the Zambezi Regional Council, and Ronnie Dempers, chairman of NACSO and Executive Director of the Namibian Development Trust. The GOSCARs fund is being managed at no cost by the Namibian Chamber of Environment. The award ceremony was also a memorial for Garth who died in April 2020, aged 76, and who is buried at Wêreldsend, Dr Jacobsohn said. Sons Tuareg and Kyle Owen-Smith, brother and sister in-law Professor Norman and Margie Owen-Smith were able to visit the grave for the first time, now that COVID travel restrictions over the past two years have been lifted. Many community and conservancy members who were unable to pay their respects at the funeral for the same reason, used this opportunity to visitWêreldsend. Nominations for the 2023 GOSCARs are open. Nominees must work for a community-based organisation and the focus is on field workers: conservancy game guards, conservancy lion or rhino rangers, fish guards or community resource monitors. Government, NGO or private sector staff are welcome to nominate worthy candidates but are not themselves eligible.

Hans Haoseb

Hans has been a part of his conservancy for more than 20 years, starting as a community game guard. Today he is one of the most experienced conservancy rhino trackers in Namibia. Working in the mountainous areas of his conservancy, he spends much of his time tracking rhino on foot in rocky and difficult terrain, often going out for much longer than his job requires.While his focus is rhino, Hans cares deeply about all wildlife and natural ecosystems. He takes new rhino rangers under his wing and ensures that his wealth of knowledge is passed on. His nominators believe few can match his dedication and commitment.

15 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 82 (2022)