The Backbone of Conservation

Beneath the warm lights of The Village in Windhoek, the story of Namibia’s conservation success unfolded – not through dramatic vistas or iconic wildlife, but through the voices and journeys of those who protect them. On 16 April 2026, the fifth annual Grassroots Owen-Smith Conservation Awards, known as the GOSCARs, brought together conservationists, community leaders and supporters to honour the quiet, persistent work happening away from the spotlight.

Six rangers were selected by the GOSCARs panel this year, each one embodying the values that defined the life and work of community-based conservation pioneer Garth Owen-Smith. Their work is grounded in the development and application of local knowledge, where conservation is not an abstract ideal but a daily responsibility evolving around community life.

Drawn from conservancies across the country, from Okongoro to King Nehale in the Oshikoto Region, the 2026 recipients are Uezekava Jokaa Tjuma, Uezekandavi Nguezeeta, Taiwin Garoeb, Jauire Allu Uararavi, Gustav Haraeb and Gabriel Mwatilefu Absalom. Each is widely respected within their community, known not only for their dedication to conservation, but for their role in supporting and uplifting those around them.

Amongst them, one story stood out. Tjuma, the only woman among this year’s recipients, is an elephant ranger and a team leader whose presence in the field has quietly reshaped expectations. In a role often dominated by men, she has inspired younger colleagues through her example. By doing this work at her age and standing her ground in the face of an animal many fear, she has shown young men and women in her community that courage is not defined by gender, and that they too can step forward and do the same.

The awards are presented annually to Namibia’s top performing conservancy game guards, lion or rhino rangers, fish guards and community resource monitors. This year, the panel also recognised outstanding field workers employed by NGOs, reflecting the nature of conservation work in a changing environment. As pressures on ecosystems grow, the role of these frontline individuals becomes ever more vital.

Each recipient received N$30,000, with a portion of the prize allocated to their community-based organisation, reinforcing the idea that conservation is a shared effort with shared benefits. The awards are made possible through contributions to the Owen-Smith Memorial Fund, supported by Namibian and international partners and managed by the Namibian Chamber of Environment (NCE).

The selection process is guided by a panel with deep roots in Namibia’s conservation history, chaired by Dr Margaret Jacobsohn, co-founder of IRDNC, alongside Hon. Beaven Munali, co-chair, and Ronny Dempers, executive director of the NDT. Their combined experience reflects decades of commitment to community-based natural resource management.

In his keynote address, IRDNC Executive Director John Kasaona reflected on a journey that began long before independence. Having worked alongside Dr Jacobsohn in the 1980s as her translator in the Kunene Region, he spoke about the strides that have been made since those early days. “We’ve come a long way since then!” he said, before recalling the legacy at the heart of the awards: “Garth’s goal in life was to liberate conservancies and give ownership to local chiefs, local leaders and the people living side by side with wildlife.”

That vision, honed through countless conversations held under trees with communities, laid the groundwork for Namibia’s internationally recognised conservation model. It is a system built on trust, participation and local stewardship.

Dempers echoed this sentiment in his remarks on the importance of recognising those working on the ground. “Without the community in the driver’s seat there can be no CBNRM (community-based natural resource management),” he noted, highlighting the essential role of what he called the “foot soldiers on the ground”. “Community game guards are the backbone of conservation in Namibia.”

As the awards were presented, Dr Jacobsohn offered a final reflection that captured the spirit of the evening: “Without these boots on the ground there would be no conservation!”

In celebrating these individuals, the GOSCARs shift the narrative away from policies, committees and government towards the people who live alongside and sustain wildlife. It is a reminder that Namibia’s conservation success is measured not only in wildlife numbers but in the courage, commitment and resilience of those who protect it every day.