1. Background information of the Nkulivere Landscape

1.1 Description of the Landscape The Nkulivere Focal Landscape is situated in the north-western Region. The landscape is mostly flat with low undulating dunes that are oriented east-west, and with small omirambas in the dune valleys. The Mpungu omaramba flows south-east- wards through the northern corner of the landscape. The landscape is characterized by sandy soils and woodlands, and rural livelihoods are based mainly on livestock, dryland cropping, and the use of forestry products. The Nkulivere Focal Landscape is located mainly in the Mpungu Constituency in Kavango West Region with a small amount of over- lap into the Tondoro Constituency.

1.2 Ethnic Groups The focal landscape is inhibited by the Ovakwangali people. The Nature Founda- tion (NNF) is the Consortia responsible for overseeing the implementation of all activities in this landscape. 1.3 Population and demographics The population in the Nkulivere Focal Landscape has been calculated from the 2011 cen- sus data, using the NSA’s disaggregated figure for the exact area of the focal landscape (11,245 people) (NSA 2021 pers. comm.) and applying to this the annual growth rate of 1.0% for the and West Regions (NSA 2012). This calculates to 12,421 people. In 2011 the sex ratio was roughly equal, with a very small male bias (51.2% men to 48.8% women).

The average household size of the combined Kavango Regions in 2015 was 6.1 people/ household (NSA, 2016). Using this figure, Nkulivere has 1,843 households in the Land- scape. The population density of the Focal Landscape calculates to 5.7 persons/km2. This is slightly higher than the average for the combined Kavango Regions, which is 4.6 people/km2 (NSA, 2012).

The Kavango Regions as a whole has a relatively young population, with 43% of the peo- ple being less than 15 years old (NSA, 2012) (Table 2.2.1). This proportion is higher in rural areas, at 44%, and there is also a relatively high proportion (7.9%) of elderly people aged 60 and above in rural areas of the Kavangos (NSA, 2012). These values are roughly similar to the national average in rural areas, which is 41.4%, attributed to the trend for work- ing-age people (older than 15) to migrate away from rural areas and into urban situations where there are potentially better work opportunities (NSA, 2012).

1.4 Livelihoods and employment Officially, the employment rate for the Kavango Regions is 50% (NSA 2012, Table 5.84), which is substantially lower than the national average of 63.1%. Of the people in the Kavango Regions aged 15 years and older, 60.3% of them are engaged in the category ‘agriculture, forestry, and fishing (Table 5.98 p152). In Nkulivere FL, the main source of household income is farming for 56.7% of the population, old-age pensions for 18.1%, wag- es and salaries for 10.2%, and non-farming business activities for 6.3% (NSA 2021, pers. comm.). These figures show the very high proportion of people who depend heavily on farming and the local natural resources.

Rural livelihoods in the Kavango Regions away from the Okavango River are primarily based on crop cultivation (mainly mahangu), livestock, and the use of timber and oth- er non-timber forest products. However, the low fertility of the soils means that most households are unable to grow enough mahangu for their annual needs (Mendelsohn & el Obeid, 2003). Ownership of livestock is very skewed, with 6% of all households owning 49% of all cattle, and less than 10% of both cattle and goats are marketed. In rural house- holds, about half of all food is produced at home and the other half obtained from cash purchases. Overall, subsistence farmers face high risks and low rewards (Mendelsohn & el Obeid, 2003). 1.5 Education The 2011 education statistics for the combined Kavango Regions are as follows. The per- centage of infants attending Early Childhood Development programs was 10.7%, which is slightly lower than the national rural average of 9.8% (NSA 2012 Table 5.2.1 p48). The literacy rate for the Regions was 79.4% (NSA 2012 Table 5.3.1.2 p49). School enrolment in the Kavangos was 60% in 2011, compared to the national average of 63.2% (NSA 2012 Figure 5.3.2.3.2 p52).

1.6 Health The 2011 national census data provide little health information. The only useful indicator is the percentage of disabled people; for the combined Kavango Regions this is 5.7%, which is slightly higher than the national average of 4.7% (NSA 2012 Table 5.53 p132).

1.7 Household assets and resource use The proportions of households that possess certain assets and use certain resources are informative of the livelihoods of the residents (NSA 2012 Tables 6.50 to 7.152). The five statistics below give an indication of average material wealth and use of local natural resources in the combined Kavango Regions (NSA 2012).

Table1.Criterion Averages for Namibia

Households that possess a car 9.1% 22.3% (Table 6.33 p171)

Households that possess an 2.8% 6.3% animal-drawn cart

Households that live in a tradi- 72.9% 37.7% tional dwelling (Table 7.8, p179)

Households that use wood for 84.3% 53.6% cooking (Table 7.88 p194)

Households that use wood for 72.8% 46.3 heating (Table 7.123 p200) 2. Main geographic features and land uses in the Nkulivere Focal Landscape

2.1 Topography and soils The Focal Landscape is mostly flat with low undulating relief and forms part of the large Kalahari basin with linear east-west oriented dunes. The Kalahari sandveld comprises deep, reddish sands classified as ferralic arenosols, which have high permeability and low water and nutrient-holding capacity (Bhalla & Rothauge, 2019). The soils are there- fore poor in nutrients and are primarily suited for grazing although they can be used for dryland farming. Fields are cultivated in the linear valleys where the clay content of the soil is slightly higher, making the soil darker, moister, and more fertile (Mendelsohn & el Obeid, 2003).

2.2. Vegetation Similar to the Okongo Focal Landscape close by to the west, the sandy substrate of Nkuli- vere Focal Landscape supports extensive woodlands, with dominant large trees being Zambezi teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), kiaat (Pterocarpus angolensis), rosewood (Guibourtia coleosperma), Magnetti (Schinziophyton rautenenii) and burkea (Burkea Africana) (Fig- ure 1 9, 1-10). The first three of these listed species are valued for their timber, while Manghetti provides nuts that are used as food. Large areas are quite densely bush en- croached, with flame-thorn (Acacia ataxacantha) and wild lavender (Croton gratissimus) being common (Figure 1 7). These are the areas described as ‘scrub’ which is prominent throughout the Landscape (Bhalla & Rothauge, 2019), while fairly pristine areas of forest occur in the eastern and southern parts of the landscape.

These trees and lower scrubby cover form what is classified as North-eastern Kalahari Woodland (Mendelsohn, et al., 2002). Timber resources are available for harvesting under controlled management. Frequent veld fires are responsible for losses of large trees and result in the bush encroachment that is observed (Mendelsohn & el Obeid, 2005) The approximate area under the three main vegetation types /classes as calculated by Bhalla (2019) is presented in Table 3 20 below. The trend for the change in land cover type/class averaged over 16 years (2003-2018), as calculated by Bhalla (2019) is presented in the table below. 2.3 Surface and groundwater The sandy soils absorb rainfall quickly so there is very little surface runoff from rainwater. The dune valleys tend to accumulate shallow water in the omiramba in the rainy season, and this is the only naturally occurring surface water in the landscape. All domestic and livestock needs are met through groundwater; settlements rely on boreholes with diesel and solar pumps.

3. NILALEG Project Key Activities

3.1 Establish a multistakeholder coordination structure that will spearhead the imple- mentation and monitoring of Integrated Landscape Management. 3.2 Facilitate Participatory Land Use Planning Training 3.3 Explore the establishment of a Community Forest in the Landscape. 3.4 Develop. Implement and Monitor management plans and protocols for sustainable land and forest management 3.5 Establish Local Youth Employment Scheme to support infrastructure Development in the Landscape 3.6 Rehabilitate 3 earth dams for livestock and fodder production support. 3.7 Support Organic Certification (training and equipment) of Devils Claw harvesters in the Landscape. 3.8 Conduct awareness-raising sessions on sustainable forest management practices 3.9 Develop, implement and monitor a plan for restoration of Savannah for grazing /forest for mixed agroforestry. 3.10 Training of farmers on smart agriculture practices 3.11 Training of farmers on livestock and rangeland management 3.12 Train and equip Regional Council /community monitors for ongoing monitoring and enforcement of restoration sites and protocols. 3.13 Establish plots for fodder and crop production through FFA. 3.14 Support EIF Grant Enterprises 3.15 Establish a Furniture factory/timber harvesting Enterprise 3.16 Drilling of 1 borehole and installation of 1 borehole in Nkulivere for livestock support and fodder production Inquiries: Frances Chase Head of Projects Tel: + 264 61 248345 Namibia Nature Foundation [email protected]