Technology appropriation through co-design of conservation management tools by indigenous communities

Abstract

Conservancies in the Skeleton Coast Iona Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in North West Namibia and Southern Angola face several challenges in regards to the management of ecosystem's and wildlife. Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), lack of livelihood opportunities and lack of formal involvement in sustainable resource management of valuable wildlife and flora are such challenges. The current TFCA eco-system and wildlife management methods seem to be inadequate and exclusive of indigenous communities. As a result, the Skeleton Coast Iona (SCIONA) project, aims to strengthen cross-border ecosystem management and wildlife protection by co-designing and implementing conservation monitoring technology. Considering that previous technologies were developed without the input of indigenous communities, we postulate that technology appropriation be facilitated through a systematic co-design process that reflects the joint meaning of the process.