Deoclearancia “Lorna” Dax is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Originally from the nature-deficient region of central Namibia, Lorna later developed a passion for conservation and community outreach as a manager at the biodiversity-rich Khoadi Hoas Communal Conservancy in remote North-Western Namibia. In early 2022, Lorna joined Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT) as the programme & partnership development officer. She spends her workdays fundraising, writing grant reports, coordinating outreach programs, and posting on social media.
Lorna recently completed intensive leadership and project management training through the CoalitionWILD EXCELerator program and is also a 2023 alumna of their mentorship program. She is pursuing a business leadership degree at the University of Namibia and is slated to assume a leadership position at SRT within the next several years. Lorna is deeply passionate about female empowerment and youth engagement. She believes conservation is only successful when communities are the caretakers of their local biodiversity.
Capacity Building and Outreach to Conserve Desert-Adapted Black Rhinos
Lorna’s grant funding will help conserve wildlife and the critically endangered desert-adapted black rhinos of Northwest Namibia. Her employer, Save the Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT), is situated in an area with the world’s last free-roaming population of black rhinos. As these animals often wander into communities, Lorna understands the importance of educating local people about the benefits of wildlife coexistence.
With this in mind, she will expand SRT’s robust community outreach program into local schools. Her philosophy is that when children learn about the benefits of wildlife, they will spread that awareness to their families and communities. She will also run a public speaking workshop for female conservancy managers and administrators. These individuals are essential voices in conservation, and Lorna wants them to gain the skills and confidence to tell their stories. Lastly, she will apply her funding toward her postgraduate degree tuition at the University of Namibia in 2025.
