DOMAINE D'EXPERTISE

National Parks Management

FORMATION DE BASE

World Heritage Site Management Wildlife Management Law Enforcement Firearms Handling

COMPETENCES

Research/Recherche, Conservation, Élaboration des documents stratégiques/Elaboration policies

BIOGRAPHIE

Biography of Jonas David Masen I have been born at Sesfontein; Kunene Region were the idea of Community Based Natural Resources was first born. My uncles were recruited as Game Guards by Garth Owen Smith. I like the way they were going out in the field all dressed up as Rangers. I wanted that life. I grow-up at Etosha National Park; Okaukuejo where my father was working for The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, one of the first of three Nature Reserves in Namibia. I always wanted to wear Nature Conservation uniform like my father and uncles and drive Toyota Landcruiser’s and Ford Customs, be in the field. That is how I fall in love with Nature Conservation. I was born into Nature Conservation. April 1998, I started working for The Ministry of Environment and Tourism: Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks as a Ranger at Tsumkwe Otjozondjupa Region. Duties consisted of Law enforcement, water inspection and installations, fence inspections and repairs, human wildlife conflict management, meetings, disease free Buffalo management and community based natural resources management as I was liaising with Nyae-Nyae, N#a-Jaqna and Ondjou conservancies. Tsumkwe head office was situated at Rundu, this gives me an opportunity to do relief duties at Khaudum National Park, Mahango, Buffalo, Nova De March and Gam. Waterhole Game Counts in Khaudum National Park. Reporting office was Grootfontein which have also exposed me to farm inspections in Grootfontein vicinity. I was in charge of the Horse Unit that was established at Tsumkwe from the out of service horses that we translocated from Etosha National Park, Otjovasandu. March 2006, I transferred to Namib Naukluft National Park, Ganab station all the Ranger job descriptions did not change, additional activities were Campsites management and Tourists Control. At Tsumkwe I was managing sixteen boreholes were as at Ganab there were only four boreholes. At times I was called to Zais to assist with water installations and Rhino monitoring. Cape Cross Seal Reserve was part of Ganab then, we build the walkway at Cape Cross, removing dead stinging seals. We upgraded Ganab VIP campsite. February 2010, I decided to study with Polytechnic of Namibia towards the Diploma in Natural Resources Management. Subjects of interests were Animal studies, Plant studies, Ecology and Techniques. Outstanding excursion was trip to Kunene; Puros, Sesfontein and Opuwo. I was awarded the best student accolade consecutively for three years as I completed the studies November 2012. I was urged by the Lecturers of PoN to further studies but I opted to become a Warden. August 2013, I was promoted to the Rank of Warden at Waterberg Plateau Park, Onjoka station, main areas of responsibility were Human Resources Management, Environmental Education, Rhino, Disease free Buffalo and Veld fires management, aerial and full Moon waterhole game counts. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks, granted me lifetime opportunity to interact with the Chinese counterparts and various African top nature conservationists and scientists as on September 2017, I represented the ministry at Beijing, China at the Seminar on Wildlife Animal Protection and Anti-Poaching for African Countries. March 2019, I was promoted to the current Rank of Chief Warden of Namib Naukluft National Park, Sesriem station. Managing five stations. Sesriem, Tsams West, Naukluft, Zais and Ganab. Supervising three Wardens and One Accountant. All the park duties still applies in NNNP, including aerial game counts and rhino monitoring, water and veld fire management is crucial. 2019, I was selected as the Site Manager of Namib Sand Sea UNESCO World Heritage Site by The Natural Heritage Council of Namibia in agreement with The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, to upheld the outstanding universal values of Namib Sand Sea. June 2019, I represented Namib Sand Sea at Azerbaijan, Baku at the World Heritage Site Managers Forum. February 2020, I represented Namib Sand Sea at Kenya, Nairobi on 3rd Cycle of Periodic Reporting on World Heritage in the African Region. I was the active member of reviewing of Management Plan of Namib Naukluft National Park 2021/2022-2030/2031. I don’t regret working for Nature Conservation to better the wellbeing of the current and future Namibian Nation through sustainable wildlife utilization, foreign communities’ benefits and to effectively and efficiently manage the wildlife populations. I am an active Sesfontein Conservancy member.