Inventory of Ecosystem Services in Namibia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DEVELOPMENT OF AN INVENTORY OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN NAMIBIA Development of an Inventory of Ecosystem Services in Namibia Final Report Contributing Authors Lawrie Harper-Simmonds, Dr John Mendelsohn, Dr Jean-Paul Roux, John Pallet, Dr Chris Brown, Angus Middleton and Johannes Kruse Edited: Catherine Birch Enquiries Ministry of Environment and Tourism Cnr Robert Mugabe and Dr Kenneth Kaunda Streets Private Bag 13306 Windhoek, Namibia Updates This inventory of ecosystem services is a first step, and should lead to debate, research, and further iteration. As more knowledge and data are gathered and our understanding of ecosystem services is improved, this inventory can poten- tially be updated. To this purpose, contributions can be submitted to the email address below. Please note that only well-developed submissions backed up by data/evidence/qualified opinion will be considered. Acknowledgements The authors would in particular like to thank Dr. Konrad Uebelhoer and Dr. Martin Nowack of GIZ, Ms. Ece Ozdemiroglu of eftec, Gillian Maggs-Kölling, Theo Wassenaar, John Irish (Gobabeb Training and Research Centre) and Mutjinde Kat- jiua (Namibia University of Science and Technology NUST) who reviewed and provided detailed comments to support the finalisation of the report. Ben Nathanael designed and compiled the maps of each ecosystem zone. This study was financed by the Resource Mobilisation Project of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and the Deutsche Ge- sellschaft für international Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The Resource Mobilisation Project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). The BMUB supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. This study was initiated and financed by the Resource Mobilisa- tion Project of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für international Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The Resource Mobilisation Project is part of the Inter- national Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). The BMUB supports this initiative on the basis of a decision adopted by the German Bundestag. www.resmob.org Table of Contents List of Acronyms 8 Foreword 9 Executive Summary 10 1 Introduction 14 1.1 Background 14 1.2 Objectives 14 1.3 Structure 15 2 The ecosystem services approach 17 2.1 Ecosystem services 17 2.2 Ecosystems, ecosystem services and well-being: a conceptual framework 18 3 Methodology 22 3.1 Identification and delineation of ecosystem zones 22 3.2 Assessment of ecosystem zones 23 3.2.1 Main attributes and ecological processes 23 3.2.2 Human activity and population 23 3.2.3 Drivers of change 24 3.3 Identification of ecosystem services 25 3.3.1 Provisioning services 26 3.3.2 Regulation and maintenance services 26 3.3.3 Cultural services 27 3.3.4 CICES, final ecosystem services and double-counting 28 3.4 Development of an inventory of ecosystem services 28 3.5 Prioritisation of ecosystem services 30 3.6 References 32 4 Key ecosystem processes 34 4.1 Climate change 34 4.2 Fire 34 4.3 Bush encroachment 35 4.4 Changes from livestock to wildlife farming 35 4.5 Cattle ownership in communal land 35 4.6 Rural emigration and urban growth 36 4.7 Urban challenges 36 4.8 References 36 4.8.1 Climate change 36 4.8.2 Fire 37 4.8.3 Bush encroachment 37 4.8.4 Changes from livestock to wildlife farming 37 4.8.5 Cattle ownership in communal land 38 4.8.6 Rural emigration and urban growth 38 4.8.7 Urban challenges 38 5 Namibia’s ecosystem zones and their services 40 5.1 North-Eastern Rivers 40 5.1.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 40 5.1.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 43 5.1.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 48 5.1.4 References 49 5.2 Northern Kalahari Woodlands 50 5.2.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 50 5.2.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 52 5.2.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 57 5.2.4 References 59 5.3 Dry Kalahari Woodlands 59 5.3.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 59 5.3.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 61 5.3.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 66 5.3.4 References 67 5.4 Highland Acacia Savanna 68 5.4.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 68 5.4.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 70 5.4.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 76 5.4.4 References 77 5.5 Karstveld 78 5.5.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 78 5.5.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 80 5.5.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 85 5.5.4 References 86 5.6 Etosha Pans and Shrublands 86 5.6.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 86 5.6.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 88 5.6.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 92 5.6.4 References 94 5.7.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 94 5.7.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 96 5.7.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 101 5.7.4 References 102 5.8 Western Highlands 103 5.8.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 103 5.8.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 109 5.8.4 References 110 5.9 Nama Karoo Shrublands 111 5.9.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 111 5.9.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 113 5.9.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 118 5.9.4 References 119 5.10 Northern Namib 120 5.10.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 120 5.10.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 123 5.10.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 126 5.10.4 References 128 5.11 Namib Sand Sea 129 5.11.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 129 5.11.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 131 5.11.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 135 5.11.4 References 136 5.12 Succulent Karoo 137 5.12.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 137 5.12.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 139 5.12.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 143 5.12.4 References 144 5.13 Coastal and Near-Shore 144 5.13.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 144 5.13.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 147 5.13.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 151 5.13.4 References 152 5.14 Continental Shelf 153 5.14.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 153 5.14.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 155 5.14.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 159 5.14.4 References 160 5.15 Shelf-Break and Slope 161 5.15.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 161 5.15.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 163 5.15.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 167 5.15.4 References 168 5.16 Deep Sea 169 5.16.1 Description and assessment of ecosystem zone 169 5.16.2 Inventory of main ecosystem services 170 5.16.3 Criteria for prioritisation of ecosystem services 174 5.16.4 References 175 5.17 Urban 175 5.17.1 Description 175 5.17.2 Ecosystem services 177 5.17.3 References 177 6 Synthesis of ecosystem services at the national level 179 6.1 Terrestrial ecosystem services 179 6.2 Coastal and marine ecosystem services 181 7 Roadmap for the prioritisation of ecosystem services at the national level 185 7.1 Current and future expected impacts on the flow of the service 185 7.2 Services affected by critical threats identified in NBSAP2 185 7.3 Economic importance (current and potential) 187 7.4 Affected population (size and socio-economic characteristics) 187 7.5 Availability of data 188 8 Conclusions 190 9 General references 193 List of Acronyms CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CICES Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone FEGS-CS Final Ecosystem Goods and Services Classification System GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit ICCAT International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna MA Millennium Ecosystem Assessment MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism MFMR Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources NBSAP2 Namibia’s Second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan NDC Namibia Development Corporation NE rivers North-East Rivers NHIES National Household Income and Expenditure Survey ResMob Resource Mobilisation for the Conservation of Biodiversity SANUMARC Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre SEAFO South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisations SEEA-EEA System of Environmental-Economic Accounts: Experimental Ecosystem Accounting SNA System of National Accounts TAC Total Allowable Catch TEEB The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity UKNEA United Kingdom National Ecosystem Assessment UNAM University of Namibia USEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency WHS World Heritage Site 9 Foreword Namibia's second National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP ll) aims for Namibia's biodiversity to be healthy and resilient to threats, and for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity to be key drivers of poverty alleviation and equitable economic growth. The need to mainstream biodiversity across all levels of Government and society is recognised as a cornerstone of NBSAP II and a key strategy for addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss in the country. The valuation of ecosystem services is an integral part of mainstreaming as it serves to inform decision-makers and the public at large about the values of biodiversity so that it can be better integrated into national and sectoral policymaking, planning, budgeting and decision-making frameworks of both the public and private sector.