Namibia has a well-developed network of protected areas that makes a major contribution to the conservation objectives contained in the country's development goals. However, these national parks and game reserves has for many years remained largely separate from the people who live around their borders or within the parks themselves. As a result there are often negative impacts on the habitats and wildlife conserved by the protected areas because neighbours are hostile to the parks. Further, the considerable economic opportunities that protected areas offer have in the past remained outside the reach of local communities and local entrepreneurs. People living in or next to protected areas often suffer losses from wildlife such as predators that kill livestock or elephants that damage crops and property. Most protected areas were established on land that in the past was occupied by people and many park neighbours today have cultural associations with areas within the parks.