CBNRM in Namibia has grown from a small pilot project initiated by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) and local traditional leaders to a multifaceted national programme that addresses natural resource management, economic development and local governance and involves local communities and 12 Namibian non-governmental support organizations. It has been embraced by government as a means of combating poverty and has been adopted by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) as an important conservation initiative outside of protected areas.