Etosha Management Plan
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Etosha Management Plan 2007 ETOSHA MANAGEMENT PLAN _______________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents 1. Definitions and abbreviations .............................................................................................. 4 2. Layout and Purpose of the Plan .......................................................................................... 5 3. Mission Statement for Park Management ........................................................................... 6 3.1. Strategic Objectives .................................................................................................... 6 4. Natural Resources .............................................................................................................. 7 4.1. Biotic ........................................................................................................................... 8 4.1.1. Flora ...................................................................................................................10 4.1.2. Fauna .................................................................................................................12 4.2. Abiotic ........................................................................................................................14 4.2.1. Water .................................................................................................................14 4.2.2. Soil .....................................................................................................................15 4.2.3. Geology & Minerals ............................................................................................17 4.2.4. Landscapes ........................................................................................................18 5. Cultural, Historical and Archaeological Resources .............................................................20 6. Zonation ............................................................................................................................21 6.1. Natural Resource Use Zones .....................................................................................25 7. Management interventions.................................................................................................26 7.1. Artificial Water provision for Wildlife ...........................................................................26 7.2. Human/wildlife Interaction ..........................................................................................28 7.3. Human Safety ............................................................................................................29 8. Tourism .............................................................................................................................31 9. Collaboration and Partnerships ..........................................................................................33 10. Community and Social .......................................................................................................34 10.1. Environmental Education .......................................................................................35 11. Land ..................................................................................................................................36 11.1. Unresolved Land Issues .........................................................................................37 12. Marketing ...........................................................................................................................38 13. Infrastructure .....................................................................................................................39 13.1. Access and Roads .................................................................................................40 13.2. Fences ...................................................................................................................43 13.3. Buildings ................................................................................................................44 13.4. Airstrips and Aircraft ...............................................................................................45 13.5. Waste Disposal ......................................................................................................46 14. Administration and Management .......................................................................................48 15. Appendix 1 SWOT Analysis ..............................................................................................52 16. Appendix 2 Important Species and Habitats .....................................................................56 17. Appendix 3 Pets and Domestic Stock Policy .....................................................................61 18. Appendix 4 Use Zonation..................................................................................................62 19. Appendix 5 Recorded incidences of poaching and species involved .................................63 2 ETOSHA MANAGEMENT PLAN _______________________________________________________________________ Table of Figures Figure 1 - Etosha vegetation map ............................................................................................. 11 Figure 2 - Soil map for Etosha (Buch et al 1996) ...................................................................... 16 Figure 3 - Map showing topography of Etosha and vicinity ....................................................... 18 Figure 4 - Map showing the height above sea level for Etosha, based on a Digital Elevation Model. ..................................................................................................... 19 Figure 5 - Map showing broad zonation of the Park. Orange areas indicate 5km buffers around existing, self-drive tourist roads, yellow areas indicate 5km around new roads. .............................................................................................................. 22 Figure 6 - Map showing the distribution of both springs and boreholes and the areas lying within a certain distance from these water points. ........................................... 26 Figure 7 - Map showing water quality based on electric conductivity measurements ................ 27 Figure 8 - Map showing current road network open to tourists, with categories indicating the width of the roads. ............................................................................................. 41 Figure 9 - Map showing potential service roads (thick red); roads currently open to tourists (thin red) and possible new roads (green) for guided tourism. .................... 41 Figure 10 - Map showing different types of fencing used along Etosha boundary ..................... 43 Figure 11 - Map showing the six airstrips, four repeater stations for the Park radio system as well as the two Telecom repeater stations (outside the camps) .............. 45 Figure 12 - Map showing the eleven “Ranger areas” in relation to the four camps and the smaller stations/ gates, where staff is also accommodated ............................... 49 List of Tables An overview of management actions in relation to game translocation and culling in Etosha, for the thirty year period between 1967 and 1997....................................... 13 Areas that lie within a certain distance to the nearest water ..................................................... 27 Water quality classes and their suitability implications .............................................................. 27 Break-down of the kilometre of tourist road in the self-drive - and tour operator zones. ............ 42 The length of the different types of fencing used, unit costs and annual depreciation calculated ................................................................................................................ 44 The eleven “Ranger areas” with their sizes, km of boundary fence and artificial water holes ....................................................................................................................... 49 3 ETOSHA MANAGEMENT PLAN _______________________________________________________________________ 1. Definitions and abbreviations Definitions Alien: Any plant or organism that has been introduced to southern Africa by humans, either directly or indirectly and intentionally or unintentionally. Conservation: The management of the human use of the biosphere so that it will yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations, while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. It includes preservation, maintenance, sustainable use, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment. Endemic: An animal or plant species which is naturally only restricted to the habitats which form part of the Etosha National Park. Habitat: The natural home of a plant or animal species. Generally those environmental features or characteristics of an area, which are essential to the survival of an animal or a plant. Endangered: Species in danger of extinction (globally) and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue operating. Included are species whose numbers have reduced to a critical level or whose habitat has been so drastically diminished and/or degraded that they are deemed to be in immediate danger of extinction. Also included are species that may already be extinct (based on the IUCN definition). Vulnerable: Species believed likely