DOCSLIB.ORG

Fire Management Strategy for Namibia's Protected Areas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Fire Management Strategy for Namibia's Protected Areas REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA Ministry of Environment and Tourism Fire Management Strategy for Namibia’s Protected Areas November 2016 Republic of Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism Author: MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks Troskie Building, Corner of Dr Kenneth David Kaunda and Robert Mugabe Street P/Bag 13306, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 284 2518 © MET 2016 Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes without prior permission from the copyright holder is authorized, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes without prior written permission of the copyright holder is prohibited. 2 FOREWORD Namibia is a relatively dry country with grassland and savanna ecosystems existing in much of its arid and semi-arid areas. Fire is a natural and regular occurrence in these ecosystems and it is important to manage fire in the protected areas occurring within them. In general, fires are frequent in the northeast where annual rainfall up to 700 mm occurs and this frequency diminishes with rainfall in the desert biomes. Management of fire in Namibia’s protected areas is not a new issue and has been dominated by fire exclusion, protection and suppression policies dating back to the 1960s. Over the decades, recognition that fire plays a role in the ecosystem developed in the 1980’s with the intentional use of fire to simulate lightning ignited fire regimes, control bush encroachment and to modify grazing pressure. Implementation has not been widespread and fire prevention and suppression activities have remained the mainstay of fire management in protected areas for the last thirty to forty years. Resources and efforts have been focused on extensive firebreak networks and reactive fire suppression to mitigate uncontrolled wildfires that have impacted negatively on protected area management objectives. Traditional burning, the use of fire as a land management tool, is prevalent in the neighbouring communal areas of many protected areas, particularly in the northeast. This use includes slash-and-burn agriculture, natural product harvesting, livestock grazing, protection from wildlife, hunting and honey gathering. Insufficient and inconsistent land and fire management legislation, policies and strategies inadequately address the appropriate use of this fire, causing a lack of understanding that results in the uncoordinated use of fire throughout. Ineffective fire prevention and suppression approaches have resulted in extensive uncontrolled wildfires in the late dry season occurring throughout the majority (up to 80 %) of the northeast Parks every year. Protected areas in other regions are experiencing an increase in uncontrolled wildfires over recent years due to build up of fire fuel loads from years of fire exclusion and a weakening in prevention and suppression capacity. Over the decades the high intensity fire regime has contributed to the degradation of the PA ecosystems and management objectives by affecting vegetation structure and species composition; reducing ecosystem function and productivity, threatening high value and vulnerable ecosystems, and reducing habitat and biological diversity. The adherence to this strategy will play a role in ensuring that the Ministry remains committed to the conservation and protection of our wildlife, and that our protected areas are managed properly. Pohamba Shifeta, MP MINISTER 3 PREFACE In recent years, fire management approaches have been introduced into Namibia’s Protected Areas - particularly Etosha National Park and the parks in the north-east − under the premise that fire can be used as an appropriate management tool to actively maintain and rehabilitate all terrestrial habitats within the parks. Implementation of the practice − in collaboration with neighbouring conservancies and farms in order to share resources and workloads − has been successful in some areas (and in varying degrees) in controlling veld fires, as well as in reducing the area burnt annually and shifting the seasonality of burning to the early dry season in the Protected Areas. The scale, complexity and urgency of the situation has required the development of an integrated, flexible and comprehensive strategy for dealing with the management of fire in Protected Areas in order to ensure that these ecosystems can contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation while taking into account the socioeconomic development of the country and its people. This document sets out the overall framework for fire management in Namibia’s Protected Areas for the future. Included in this Fire Management Strategy for Namibia’s Protected Areas is a controlled fire management programme specific to each Protected Area that has been developed through a structured planning, implementation and monitoring process. This Strategy has been developed through consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, including line ministries, freehold farmers, conservancies, non-governmental organisations, and researchers. The Strategy is based on the ideas of these stakeholders and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, arising out of many years of collective experience. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism would like to thank all its partners and stakeholders who participated in developing this Strategy. Malan Lindeque PERMANENT SECRETARY 4 Table of Contents FOREWORD PREFACE ACRONYMS 1. INTRODUCTION 7 2. BACKGROUND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR NAMIBIA’S PROTECTED AREAS 8 2.1 Management of uncontrolled wildfires 8 2.2 Controlled burning in the Protected Areas network 8 2.3 Habitats and ecosystems 9 3. PROTECTED AREAS’ FIRE MANAGEMENT IN NAMIBIA 9 3.1 Controlled fire management programmes in the larger Protected Areas 9 3.2 Fire management in small protected areas 10 3.3 Fire management in desert biome protected areas 10 4. COLLABORATIVE FIRE MANAGEMENT 10 4.1 Communal areas, conservancies and community forests 10 4.2 Private farms 10 4.3 Fire management awareness and education 11 4.4 International collaboration 11 5. FIRE INFORMATION SYSTEMS USE IN PROTECTED AREAS 11 5.1 The African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development’s Advanced Fire Information System 11 5.2 The protected areas’ integrated fire information system 12 5.3 Communication and early warning 12 5.4 Local burned area information processing 12 APPENDIX 1: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, BWABWATA NATIONAL PARK 14 APPENDIX 2: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK 32 APPENDIX 3: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, KHAUDUM NATIONAL PARK 50 APPENDIX 4: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, NKASA RUPARA NATIONAL PARK 66 APPENDIX 5: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, MANGETTI NATIONAL PARK 81 APPENDIX 6: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, MUDUMU NATIONAL PARK 96 APPENDIX 7: CONTROLLED FIRE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME, WATERBERG PLATEAU PARK 111 APPENDIX 8: SMALL PROTECTED AREAS’ FIRE MANAGEMENT 127 APPENDIX 9: DESERT BIOME PROTECTED AREAS’ FIRE MANAGEMENT 130 5 ACRONYMS AFIS Advanced Fire Information System AMESD African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development CBFM Community-based Fire Management DoF Directorate of Forestry FMZ Fire Management Zone GIS geographic information system GP Game Park GWLCA Greater Waterberg Landscape Conservation area KNC Khaudum North Complex MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism MNC Mudumu North Complex MSC Mudumu South Complex NAM-PLACE Namibia Protected Landscape Conservation Areas Initiative NP National Park PAs Protected Areas PPE Personal Protective Equipment SADC Southern African Development Community SOPs Standard Operating Procedures 6 1. INTRODUCTION Namibia has an impressive network of Protected Areas (PAs) that forms the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation across the country and represents an important drawcard for the tourism industry nationally. The 22 PAs cover 17 per cent of Namibia’s total area and provide protection to some of the country’s most important habitats and species. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to manage and develop PAs and their critical habitats and animal species in order to preserve biological diversity and ecosystems for use by present and future generations of Namibians, to generate global benefits, and to maintain water quality. Management of fire is one of the challenges in Protected Areas and this Fire Management Strategy for Namibia’s Protected Areas represents a framework to develop and implement programmes in the PA network to address this challenge. Namibia’s savanna ecosystems are characterised as fire-dependent, with vegetation structure and species composition having evolved with, and become inextricably linked to, fire activity. Fire maintains these ecosystems’ characteristic form and functioning, and the species they contain are highly adapted to regular fire events. Fire has a variety of direct and indirect impacts upon these ecosystems that can be beneficial or negative depending on fire frequency, intensity, and timing. The human use of fire has been instrumental in developing these ecosystems and continues today in the form of traditional burning practices. In savanna habitats, highly seasonal rainfall (represented by distinct wet and dry seasons) typically determines fire conditions, behaviour, and effects on an individual ecosystem. Fires occur almost exclusively in the dry season, with early dry season (May to July) fires
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Go Wild – Boxed2go Track Namibia’S Awesome Wildlife
    Go Wild – Boxed2Go Track Namibia’s awesome wildlife. 12 Day Namibian Self-Drive Safari. Experience the wild side of Namibia on this twelve-day trip through the northern regions of the country. Join the Gondwana Collection and Namibia2Go for a special Namibian journey. This carefully planned safari includes stopovers at all the popular wildlife sites. Beginning in Windhoek, the route leads northwards to the famous Etosha National Park, where two nights are enjoyed at the unique and quirky Etosha Safari Camp. The third day is spent travelling into the heart of Etosha for superb wildlife viewing, exiting in the late afternoon at the northern gate. Overnight at the stylish Etosha King Nehale on the Andoni Plains before travelling further north to the peaceful oasis of Hakusembe Lodge on the glittering Okavango River. Arrive in time to raise your glass and watch the sun sink into the horizon from the deck of the lodge. As you journey eastwards into the Zambezi Region and toward the Kwando River, a wilder Africa calls. A sanctuary for wildlife, Bwabwata National Park and surrounds provide countless photographic opportunities. Tune in to the sounds of the river and fall asleep to the chortling of hippos at Namushasha River Lodge. A highlight of a stay is a trip into Bwabwata, by boat and game-viewing vehicle. The safari continues further east on the floodplains of the Chobe River, adjacent to Chobe National Park, where it’s possible to spot elephant, buffalo and water-adapted antelope like sitatunga at different times of the year. After savouring the delights of Chobe, you enter into the enchanted world of the mighty Zambezi River, where the life-affirming calls of fish eagles resound through the day.
    [Show full text]
  • Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis Ssp
    Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis ssp. angolensis) Appendix 1: Historical and recent geographic range and population of Angolan Giraffe G. c. angolensis Geographic Range ANGOLA Historical range in Angola Giraffe formerly occurred in the mopane and acacia savannas of southern Angola (East 1999). According to Crawford-Cabral and Verissimo (2005), the historic distribution of the species presented a discontinuous range with two, reputedly separated, populations. The western-most population extended from the upper course of the Curoca River through Otchinjau to the banks of the Kunene (synonymous Cunene) River, and through Cuamato and the Mupa area further north (Crawford-Cabral and Verissimo 2005, Dagg 1962). The intention of protecting this western population of G. c. angolensis, led to the proclamation of Mupa National Park (Crawford-Cabral and Verissimo 2005, P. Vaz Pinto pers. comm.). The eastern population occurred between the Cuito and Cuando Rivers, with larger numbers of records from the southeast corner of the former Mucusso Game Reserve (Crawford-Cabral and Verissimo 2005, Dagg 1962). By the late 1990s Giraffe were assumed to be extinct in Angola (East 1999). According to Kuedikuenda and Xavier (2009), a small population of Angolan Giraffe may still occur in Mupa National Park; however, no census data exist to substantiate this claim. As the Park was ravaged by poachers and refugees, it was generally accepted that Giraffe were locally extinct until recent re-introductions into southern Angola from Namibia (Kissama Foundation 2015, East 1999, P. Vaz Pinto pers. comm.). BOTSWANA Current range in Botswana Recent genetic analyses have revealed that the population of Giraffe in the Central Kalahari and Khutse Game Reserves in central Botswana is from the subspecies G.
    [Show full text]
  • Community-Based Conservation and Protected Areas in Namibia: Social-Ecological Linkages for Biodiversity
    Community-Based Conservation and Protected Areas in Namibia: Social-Ecological Linkages for Biodiversity By Arthur Hoole A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Natural Resources Institute University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba March, 2008 THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION Community-Based Conservation and Protected Areas in Namibia: Social-Ecological Linkages for Biodiversity By Arthur Hoole A Thesis/Practicum submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Manitoba in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (c) 2008 Permission has been granted to the Library of the University of Manitoba to lend or sell copies of this thesis/practicum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or sell copies of the film, and to University Microfilms Inc. to publish an abstract of this thesis/practicum. This reproduction or copy of this thesis has been made available by authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research, and may only be reproduced and copied as permitted by copyright laws or with express written authorization from the copyright owner. i To the memory of my parents, and for Leslie ii ABSTRACT This study investigates the premise that national park designations and management in Southern Africa decoupled indigenous communities from their local ecosystems. The research explores ways and means to recouple communities and national parks to promote biodiversity. The relationships are characterized between Namibia’s community-based resource management program (CBNRM), conservancies, and protected areas system, with particular reference to the Ehi-rovipuka Conservancy and Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.
    [Show full text]
  • Caprivi and Khaudum Safari
    CAPRIVI & KHAUDUM SAFARI Visit remote and beautiful areas often devoid of other visitors on this safari through Namibia’s northeast and Caprivi Strip. Sleep under soft duvets on stretcher beds in comfortable mobile camps erected for you and enjoy relaxed evenings at smart lodges. Your knowledgeable guide will escort you through the rugged wilderness of Khaudum National Park, a densely wooded wilderness region of the northern Kalahari that’s unreachable in a 2WD vehicle. Experience rural village life and travel through lush green landscapes not see in the western desert regions of Namibia. Seek out wildlife on the fertile flood plains, swamps and in the riverine forests of the small but fascinating Mahango Game Reserve and in the larger, wilder Mudumu National Park. Finally, enjoy the tranquil experience of cruising along the Chobe River in a House Boat whilst watching animals drink at the waters edge. Day 1 - Windhoek After checking through customs at Windhoek Airport, you are met and transferred to a quiet guesthouse set in pretty gardens and situated in one of the city’s leafy suburbs. Spend the afternoon relaxing and getting over your long flight or take the time to explore Windhoek. Ask your hosts to recommend their favourite restaurant from one of the city’s many good eateries or perhaps arrange to dine in. No meals are included. Day 2 – Okonjima Your guide will meet you at your guesthouse after breakfast for the drive north through a region of gentle rolling hills where many of Namibia’s larger farms and ranches can be found. One such farm has been transformed into a wildlife reserve and is home to the AfriCat Foundation, an organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of Namibia’s predators – in particular leopard and cheetah.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Profile Republic of Zambia Giraffe Conservation Status Report
    Country Profile Republic of Zambia Giraffe Conservation Status Report Sub-region: Southern Africa General statistics Size of country: 752,614 km² Size of protected areas / percentage protected area coverage: 30% (Sub)species Thornicroft’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti) Angolan giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis) – possible South African giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) – possible Conservation Status IUCN Red List (IUCN 2012): Giraffa camelopardalis (as a species) – least concern G. c. thornicrofti – not assessed G. c. angolensis – not assessed G. c. giraffa – not assessed In the Republic of Zambia: The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is mandated under the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 12 of 1998 to manage and conserve Zambia’s wildlife and under this same act, the hunting of giraffe in Zambia is illegal (ZAWA 2015). Zambia has the second largest proportion of land under protected status in Southern Africa with approximately 225,000 km2 designated as protected areas. This equates to approximately 30% of the total land cover and of this, approximately 8% as National Parks (NPs) and 22% as Game Management Areas (GMA). The remaining protected land consists of bird sanctuaries, game ranches, forest and botanical reserves, and national heritage sites (Mwanza 2006). The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), is potentially the world’s largest conservation area, spanning five southern African countries; Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, centred around the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls area (KAZA 2015). Parks within Zambia that fall under KAZA are: Liuwa Plain, Kafue, Mosi-oa-Tunya and Sioma Ngwezi (Peace Parks Foundation 2013). GCF is dedicated to securing a future for all giraffe populations and (sub)species in the wild.
    [Show full text]
  • Entdecker, Missionare Und Händler 13 • Europäische Kolonialpolitik 15
    EINLEITUNG 9 I. LAND UND LEUTE II Geschichtlicher Überblick 11 Vorkoloniale Zeit 11 Kolonialzeit 13 Entdecker, Missionare und Händler 13 • Europäische Kolonialpolitik 15 Namibia unter dem Mandat Südafrikas 19 Der Weg zur Unabhängigkeit 20 Namibia nach der Unabhängigkeit 23 Problem der Landfrage 23 • Fortschritte und Ruckschlage 24 Geografischer Überblick 28 Das Relief 29 Klima 31 Wasservorkommen und moderne Wasserwirtschaft 35 Flora und Fauna 37 Natur- und Tierschutz 40 Wirtschaftlicher Überblick 42 Bergbau und Lagerstätten 44 Landwirtschaft 47 Großtierhaltung 48 • Wildtierhaltung 49 • Schafhaltung 50 • Regenfeldbau 50 • Bewässerungskulturen 51 Fischerei 52 Tourismus - ein Entwicklungsfaktor 54 Städte und Zentren 57 Bildungswesen 60 Bevölkerung 62 Verteilung, Strukturen und Mobilität 62 Ovambo 64 • Kavango 65 • Damara 66 ■ Herero 67 • Nama 68 • Caprivianer 69 • San 70 • Rehobother Baster 72 ■ Himba 72 Sprachenvielfalt 74 Der deutsche Einfluss in Namibia 76 2. NAMIBIA ALS REISELAND 78 Allgemeine Reisetipps A-Z 79 Das kostet Sie das Reisen in Namibia 126 REISEROUTEN DURCH NAMIBIA 129 1. Klassische große Namibia-Rundfahrt - 22 Tage 130 2. Rundfahrt durch den Norden Namibias 133 3. Rundfahrt durch den Süden Namibias 134 4. Fahrt von Windhoek durch den Caprivi-Streifen nach Victoria Falls 136 3. ZENTRAL-NAMIBIA: WINDHOEK UND UMGEBUNG 138 Windhoek 139 Redaktionstipps 140 Überblick 140 Stadtrundgang 146 Windhoeks Burgen 151 ■ Independence Avenue 152 • Heldenacker (Heroes’ Acre) 154 Ziele in der Umgebung von Windhoek 173 Daan-Viljoen-Wildpark 173 • Gross Barmen Resort 174 • Arnhem Cave 174 Weiterreise-Möglichkeiten ab Windhoek 176 Windhoek - Hardap-Damm 177 Sehenswertes unterwegs 179 Rehoboth 179 • Tropic of Capricorn (Wendekreis des Steinbocks) 182 • Hardap-Damm 182 Weiter in den Süden: Hardap-Damm - Köcherbaumwald - Keetmanshoop 186 Mariental 186 • Brukkaros 189 Köcherbaumwald 190 Keetmanshoop 192 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Itinerario Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe
    Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe 9 DAYS | 2021 NEW WORLD SAFARIS D E S T I N A T I O N M A N A G E M E N T C O M P A N Y African travel specialists www.newworldsafaris.com Information DAY Itinerary Distance Example hotels MEAL 01 Windhoek Town Lodge Windhoek D 02 Windhoek | Okahandja | Etosha 450 km Etotongwe Lodge BLD 03 Etosha NP | Tsumeb/ Etosha Region 250 km Makalani Hotel BD 04 Tsumeb/Etosha Region | Divundu 580 km Rainbow River Lodge BD 05 Divundu | Caprivi 260 km Zambezi Mubala Lodge BD 06 Caprivi Zambezi Mubala Lodge BD 07 Caprivi | Chobe National Park 250 km Trave Lodge BD 08 Chobe National Park Trave Lodge BD 09 Chobe National Park | Victoria Falls 100 km The Kingdom at the Falls BD 10 Victoria Falls | Departure D Key B L D Breakfast Lunch Dinner www.newworldsafaris.com Itinerary Day 01 | Windhoek You will be welcomed at the airport and escorted to your hotel. Before you arrive at your hotel, an orienta- tion city tour through Windhoek begins. Here you can see the Christ Church, the boulevard, the equestrian monument and the district of Klein Windhoek, as well as the district of the Bantu-speaking Katutura commu- nity. The rest of the day is at your disposal. In the evening, enjoy a dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse. Day 02 | Windhoek - Okahandja - Etosha National Park After breakfast, continue towards Outjo. You drive through typical African semi-desert landscapes and stop in Okahandja, where you visit the famous wood carving market. Visitors can learn about the art of wood car- ving and buy small souvenirs here.
    [Show full text]
  • Khaudum National Park
    Khaudum National Park The Khaudum National Park is a true African wilderness and perhaps a bit of self-discovery. The park, situated in north-eastern Namibia bordering Botswana, has less than 3 000 visitors annually and there are few tracks through the deep Kalahari sand. More elephants than people frequent the park. It is a refuge for African wild dog and roan antelope. Lion, cheetah and leopard are also found here. The park is unfenced except along the Botswana border, so game is able to move into neighbouring conservancies. Park staff co- operate with the conservancies in the joint management of the wildlife that moves between the park and neighbouring land. The Khaudum National Park is home to large herds of elephants, the African wild dog, Africa’s most endangered large predator, rare sable antelope, and over 320 species of birds. FACT FILE Park size: 3 842 km² Date proclaimed: 1989 Natural features: Kalahari sandveld with omurambas (fossil drainage lines) which act as ideal routes for wildlife. Vegetation: Tree and Shrub Savannah Biome. Dominant trees include leadwood (Combretum imberbe), evergreen false mopane (Guibourtia coleosperma), various acacia species including camel-thorn trees (Acacia erioloba), Zambezi teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), tamboti (Spirostachys africana) and baobab (Adansonia digitata). Wildlife: Elephant, roan antelope, giraffe, eland, tsessebe, reedbuck, lion, African wild dog, leopard, spotted hyaena, ostrich, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, kudu, gemsbok, warthog, side-striped jackal and various other smaller species. A total of 320 bird species have been recorded, including ground hornbill, African hobby falcon, racket-tailed roller and Bradfield’s hornbill. Summer visitors are Abdim’s stork, yellow-billed kite, steppe and lesser spotted eagles, and African golden oriole.
    [Show full text]
  • Zambezi After Breakfast, We Follow the Route of the Okavango River Into the Zambezi Where Applicable, 24Hrs Medical Evacuation Insurance Region
    SOAN-CZ | Windhoek to Kasane | Scheduled Guided Tour Day 1 | Tuesday 16 ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK 30 Group size Oshakati Ondangwa Departing Windhoek we travel north through extensive cattle farming areas GROUP DAY Katima Mulilo and bushland to the Etosha National Park, famous for its vast amount of Classic: 2 - 16 guests per vehicle CLASSIC TOURING SIZE FREESELL Opuwo Rundu Kasane wildlife and unique landscape. In the late afternoon, once we have reached ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK BWABWATA NATIONAL our camp located on the outside of the National Park, we have the rest of the PARK Departure details Tsumeb day at leisure. Outjo Overnight at Mokuti Etosha Lodge. Language: Bilingual - German and English Otavi Departure Days: Otjiwarongo Day 2 | Wednesday Tour Language: Bilingual DAMARALAND ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK Okahandja The day is devoted purely to the abundant wildlife found in the Etosha Departure days: TUESDAYS National Park, which surrounds a parched salt desert known as the Etosha Gobabis November 17 Pan. The park is home to 4 of the Big Five - elephant, lion, leopard and rhino. 2020 December 1, 15 WINDHOEK Swakopmund Game viewing in the park is primarily focussed around the waterholes, some January 19 of which are spring-fed and some supplied from a borehole, ideal places to February 16 Walvis Bay Rehoboth sit and watch over 114 different game species, or for an avid birder, more than March 2,16,30 340 bird species. An extensive network of roads links the over 30 water holes April 13 SOSSUSVLEI Mariental allowing visitors the opportunity of a comprehensive game viewing safari May 11, 25 throughout the park as each different area will provide various encounters.
    [Show full text]
  • Skeleton Coast National Park 2013
    Management Plan Skeleton Coast National Park September 2013 Republic of Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism Author: MET Ministry of Environment and Tourism Troskie House, Uhland Street P/Bag 13346, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 284 2111 Directorate of Regional Services and Park Management PZN Building, Northern Industria P/Bag 13306, Windhoek Tel: (+264 61) 284 2518 © MET 2013 Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-cormmercial purposes without prior permission from the copyright holder is authorized, provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes without prior written permission of the copyright holder is prohibited. Cover Photo: FOREWORD National parks are a vital tool for conserving Namibia’s essential biodiversity. By managing parks, their irreplaceable assets and unlimited potential will be conserved for future generations. In addition, every year Namibia’s National Parks draw large numbers of tourists, generating employment and stimulating development nationwide. National Parks also provide unique opportunities to benefit local communities through rural development while providing research, education and recreation opportunities. One of the protected areas in Namibia is the Skeleton Coast National Park. The name Skeleton Coast suggests a dramatic history and difficult conditions for human survival. These qualities make the park an attractive destination for eco-tourists. Similarly, its fine angling reputation attracts large numbers of fishermen from southern Africa and elsewhere. Altogether it is an area of international significance, set within a larger transboundary landscape that covers the length of the Namib Desert. This management plan sets out the objectives and guidelines for the management and development of the Skeleton Coast National Park.
    [Show full text]
  • National Parks of Namibia.Pdf
    Namibia’s National Parks “Our national parks are one of Namibia’s most valuable assets. They are our national treasures and their tourism potential should be harnessed for the benefi t of all people.” His Excellency Hifi kepunye Pohamba Republic of Namibia President of the Republic of Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism Exploring Namibia’s natural treasures Sparsely populated and covering a vast area of 823 680 km2, roughly three times the size of the United King- dom, Namibia is unquestionably one of Africa’s premier nature tourism destinations. There is also no doubt that the Ministry of Environment and Tourism is custodian to some of the biggest, oldest and most spectacular parks on our planet. Despite being the most arid country in sub-Saharan Af- rica, the range of habitats is incredibly diverse. Visitors can expect to encounter coastal lagoons dense with flamingos, towering sand-dunes, and volcanic plains carpeted with spring flowers, thick forests teeming with seasonal elephant herds up to 1 000 strong and lush sub-tropical wetlands that are home to crocodile, hippopotami and buffalo. The national protected area network of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism covers 140 394 km2, 17 per cent of the country, and while the century-old Etosha National and Namib-Naukluft parks are deservedly re- garded as the flagships of Namibia’s conservation suc- cess, all the country’s protected areas have something unique to offer. The formidable Waterberg Plateau holds on its summit an ecological ‘lost world’ cut off by geology from its surrounding plains for millennia. The Fish River Canyon is Africa’s grandest, second in size only to the American Grand Canyon.
    [Show full text]
  • PISC ES Env Ir Onmental Serv Ices (Pt Y) Lt D Namparks Coastal National Parks Development Programme – Cape Cross Desalination Plant
    ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR A CONTAINERISED DESALINATION PLANT AT THE CAPE CROSS RESERVE MARINE ECOLOGY SPECIALIST ASSESSMENT Prepared for SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd On behalf of Lund Consulting Engineers Prepared by Andrea Pulfrich September 2020 PISC ES Env ir onmental Serv ices (Pt y) Lt d NamParks Coastal National Parks Development Programme – Cape Cross Desalination Plant OWNERSHIP OF REPORTS AND COPYRIGHTS © 2020 Pisces Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved. This document is the property of the author. The information, ideas and structure are subject to the copyright laws or statutes of South Africa and may not be reproduced in part or in whole, or disclosed to a third party, without prior written permission of the author. Copyright in all documents, drawings and records, whether produced manually or electronically, that form part of this report shall vest in Pisces Environmental Services (Pty) Ltd. None of the documents, drawings or records may be used or applied in any manner, nor may they be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever for or to any other person, without the prior written consent of Pisces, except when they are reproduced for purposes of the report objectives as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) undertaken by SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd. Andrea Pulfrich Pisces Environmental Services PO Box 302, McGregor 6708, South Africa, Tel: +27 21 782 9553 E-mail: [email protected] Website:
    [Show full text]