Strengthening the System of National Protected Areas Project, Namibia Subcontract No. 3: Conservation Needs Assessment Revised Report March 2005 The Environment and Development Group 41 Walton Crescent, Oxford OX1 2JQ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1865 318180; Fax: +44 (0)1865 318188 Email: [email protected] Web: www.edg.org.uk Strengthening the System of National Protected Areas Project, Namibia Subcontract No. 3: Conservation Needs Assessment Revised Report March 2005 Chris Brown Susan Canney Rowan Martin Peter Tarr Strengthening the System of National Protected Areas Project: Subcontract No. 3 -- Conservation Needs Assessment, Revised Report, March 2005 Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................................ v Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... vii 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 2. Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 1 3. Frame Conditions in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism ......................................... 1 4. A Long-term Conservation Vision for Namibia ...................................................................... 4 4.1 The Existing Conservation Areas ................................................................................. 4 4.1.1 National protected area network ................................................................................. 4 4.1.2 Communal conservancies ............................................................................................. 5 4.1.3 Privately owned reserves .............................................................................................. 5 4.2 The Big Picture ................................................................................................................ 5 4.3 Achieving the Big Picture ............................................................................................ 10 4.3.1 Three integrated regions ............................................................................................. 10 4.3.2 Integration through mutually beneficial partnerships ........................................... 10 4.3.3 Integrating tourism and park management ............................................................. 11 4.3.4 Relevance to other GEF-financed projects in Namibia ........................................... 11 4.3.5 Relevance to report structure...................................................................................... 12 4.4 Biodiversity in Namibia: different taxa and knowledge gaps ............................... 12 4.4.1 Large mammals and other taxa .................................................................................. 12 4.4.2 Knowledge gaps in target PAs ................................................................................... 15 5. Management and Development in Selected Protected Areas .............................................. 15 5.1 North-West Zone .......................................................................................................... 15 5.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 15 5.1.2 Comparative advantage – the assets of the zone ..................................................... 16 5.1.3 Challenges and opportunities..................................................................................... 17 5.1.3.1 Habitats and species not represented in Protected Areas .............................. 18 5.1.4 Recommendations ........................................................................................................ 20 5.1.5 Etosha National Park ................................................................................................... 20 5.1.5.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 20 5.1.5.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................... 21 5.1.5.3 Management issues ............................................................................................. 21 5.1.5.4 Development issues............................................................................................. 22 5.1.5.5 Future focus for the project in the context of Etosha ...................................... 23 5.1.6 Skeleton Coast Park ..................................................................................................... 24 5.1.6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 24 5.1.6.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................... 24 5.1.6.3 Management issues ............................................................................................. 25 5.1.6.4 Development issues............................................................................................. 25 5.1.6.5 Future focus for the project in the context of Skeleton Coast Park ............... 26 5.1.7 Kunene Conservancies ................................................................................................ 27 5.1.7.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 27 5.1.7.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................... 27 5.1.7.3 Management issues ............................................................................................. 28 5.1.7.4 Proposed strategies for improving management ............................................ 29 5.1.7.5 Future focus for the project ................................................................................ 30 5.1.8 Linkages between the North West and Central South Zones ................................ 30 5.2 North East Zone............................................................................................................ 32 5.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 32 i Strengthening the System of National Protected Areas Project: Subcontract No. 3 -- Conservation Needs Assessment, Revised Report, March 2005 5.2.1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 32 5.2.2 Comparative advantage – the assets of the zone ..................................................... 32 5.2.2.1 Rainfall .................................................................................................................. 32 5.2.2.2 Rivers ..................................................................................................................... 32 5.2.2.3 Biodiversity........................................................................................................... 33 5.2.2.4 Infrastructure........................................................................................................ 34 5.2.3 Challenges and opportunities..................................................................................... 34 5.2.3.1 Habitats and species not represented in ........................................................... 35 5.2.3.2 Potential for tourism and other natural resource based uses ........................ 38 5.2.4 Strategies/recommendations ..................................................................................... 39 5.2.5 Bwabwata National Park............................................................................................. 40 5.2.5.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 40 5.2.5.2 Kwando Core Area .............................................................................................. 41 5.2.5.1 Mahango Game Park and Buffalo core area .................................................... 44 5.2.6 Mamili National Park .................................................................................................. 48 5.2.6.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 48 5.2.6.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................... 49 5.2.6.3 Management and Development Issues ............................................................ 49 5.2.7 Mudumu National Park .............................................................................................. 52 5.2.7.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 52 5.2.7.2 Conservation importance ................................................................................... 52 5.2.7.3 Management and Development Issues ............................................................ 53 5.2.7.4 Concluding Remarks ........................................................................................... 53 5.3 The Central-South Zone .............................................................................................. 56 5.3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................