Partners Content – 5th April 2013
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FAST FACTS: NAMIBIA CONSERVATION
Visionary conservationists have enacted policy changes and continue to put
Namibia on the forefront of conservation management. This has led to a number of
remarkable wildlife success stories, a turnaround that some call “The greatest
African wildlife recovery story over told”. Below are just some of the incredible
conservation statistics Namibia has achieved.
TOP CONSERVATION FACTS
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Namibia is the first African country to enshrine the protection of the
environment into her constitution.
Over 42% of Namibia’s surface area is under some form of conservation
management - more than any other country in the world.
Namibia has the world’s largest populations of cheetah and of black rhinos
living outside of protected areas
Link to Video: http://stories.namibiatourism.com.na/videos/
OR
Embed the Video: <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/50849281" width="500" height="282"
frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a
href="http://vimeo.com/50849281">42% and counting</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/takenotemedia">Take
Note Media</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE
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Namibia has the largest free-roaming cheetah population in the world –
there are an estimated 2,500-3,000 cheetahs in Namibia.
Namibia’s elephant population more than doubled between 1995 and 2008
from 7,500 to over 16,000 individuals. The population of desert-adapted
elephant in the Kunene region has grown from around 150 to about 750
between 1982 and 2012.
Namibia is the only country with an expanding population of free-roaming
lions - the number of free-roaming desert lions has increased five-fold in less
than two decades.
Namibia has the world's largest population of black rhino that has survived
on communal land - without conservation status - and therefore without fences.
Photo by Mikael Castro : The black rhino is one of the world's most endangered species. Between 1960 and 1995, numbers
dropped by a horrifying 96.7%, mainly as a result of poaching for their horns. There have only been two confirmed rhino
poaching incidents in Namibia in the last two years, thanks to the co-operation of the local people and a continued
respect for wildlife. Read about how the last poacher turned himself over to authorities in this article by Travel News
Namibia.
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The population of Hartmann's mountain zebra in the north-west has grown
from around 1 000 in 1982 to around 27 000 today.
In Namibia’s arid north-west springbok numbers have grown from less than 1
000 in 1982, to over 25 000 in 1999.
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Namibia is the only country in the world where large numbers of rare and
endangered wildlife are translocated FROM national parks to open communal
land.
Namibia boasts one of the largest seal colonies in the world. In Namibia, the
Cape Fur seal population is listed by global authority IUCN as a species of “least
concern”. These seals appear on CITES Appendix II because they look similar to a
threatened species, not because they are threatened themselves.
CONSERVATION OF WILDPLACES
Photo by Bill Gozansky
"The fate of the wilderness of Africa will not be decided by the hands of the clock, heralding in a new century and a
new millennium. It is up to mankind to make it a turning point in the natural history of the continent.” - Albi
Brückner, creator of the Namib-Rand Nature Reserve
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The Protected Landscapes Conservation Areas Initiative (NAMPLACE) has
already succeeded in bringing in an additional 15,550 ha of land under
Protected Areacollaborative management arrangements designed to conserve
biodiversity.
Private landholders in Namibia have played a significant role in the conservation
of wildlife, converting commercial farm land into private nature
reserves for us all to admire nature in its original state, as animals and plants
are back where they belong.
The largest private nature reserve is the NamibRand Nature Reserve, a vast
area of over 180 000 ha situated south of Sesriem, made up of 13 former
commercial farms.
The Khomas Hochland/Gamsberg area west of Windhoek has the third-clearest,
least light-polluted sky in the world. Read more about the world’s darkest
skies here
There are currently 79 communal conservancies in Namibia, covering almost
19% of the country.
Photo by Mikael Castro : The Namibian government has reinforced conservation by giving communities the opportunity
and right to manage their wildlife through communal conservancies. Namibia’s national Community Based Natural
Resource Management (CBNRM) Programme was initiated at Independence to enhance the quality of life of rural
Namibians while improving biodiversity in long-neglected areas. A sense of ownership over wildlife and other resources is
encouraging people to use their resources sustainably. Wildlife is now embraced as a complimentary land use method to
agriculture and livestock herding. People are living with wildlife, including predators and large mammals, and are
managing their natural resources wisely. In 2002 the community of Purros decided not to kill a lioness that had killed
livestock, testament to increased tolerance in the communities.
CONSERVATION ECONOMICS
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Total benefits to communal conservancies between 1998 and 2010 totaled
N$179.3 million
In 2009, community-based natural resource management generated over N$ 42
million in income to rural Namibians.
The sustainable use of wildlife has produced the majority of cash incomes to
conservancies - N$48.9 million.
Joint venture agreements with lodges brought in around N$30 million of cash to
conservancies.
Is conservation management a viable solution for Africa? Chris
Brown, aka Namibia’s Dr. Green, gives his thoughts on commercial
farming vs. wildlife value in Africa. Read it here
More information on Conservation in Namibia
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Get your copy of Namibia’s latest Conservation Magazine from Travel News
Namibia or read the stories here
EIS is a free, online information resource for public environmental information
in Namibia.
Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Programme is a
joint initiative of the Namibian Government, non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs) and rural area residents, with
technical and financial support from international donors and conservation
agencies.
Community Conservation Namibia provides more information about the
different types of communal conservancies and where to find them
The NamibRand Conservation Foundation (NRCF) is an independent non-profitmaking organisation, established during 1997 under the patronage of the
Namibia Nature Foundation. The aim of the NRCF is the promotion of
conservation and facilitation of research projects in the NamibRand Nature
Reserve and the south-western Namib region
Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) is a non-governmental
organisation that strives towards enhancing capacity for sustainable
development on all levels of society.
The Namibia Nature Foundation is a non-governmental organisation, not-forprofit and a key player in Namibia's natural-resource management.
Protected Landscapes Conservation Areas Initiative (NAMPLACE) is a five year
project established by The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) that
aims to lift barriers for the establishment of a large scale network of protected
landscapes and in so doing address the threats to habitat and species loss on a
landscape level approach.
The Republic of Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism addresses
specific environmental and wildlife management issues, rural development,
tourism development and poverty reduction through policies, legislation, smart
partnerships and innovative action.
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Did you know Namibia is home to 676 of Southern Africa's 887 bird species?
Photo by Mikael Castro
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Owambo people account for nearly half of the Namibian population. Find out more
about these people and the northern region where they live - lush bush lined with
makalani palms and traditional huts http://bit.ly/10v2Rjf
Photo by Tala.com.na
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Congratulations to Paul van Schalkwyk Photography - the first Namibian to be a finalist
in the prestigious Hassleblad Masters awards. This is just one of 6 mind-blowing images
of the Etosha landscape that made the final cut. See the others
here http://bit.ly/14nvdB3
Cast your votes and lets get Namibia in the Hassleblad history books!
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Did you know Namibia is the first African country to enshrine the protection of the
environment into her constitution?
Find out more impressive facts about Namibian Conservation
here: http://bit.ly/YzQnI6
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There’s been a lot of talk about Fairies and Termites…
Scientists think they've cracked it: http://nyti.ms/11fpHxn
What do you think the real cause is of this beautiful natural phenomenon in Namibia?
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A lonely jackal scours the desert coastline of Namibia
Photo by Paul van Schalkwyk
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Twitter
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When was the last time you watched the sunrise instead of morning
TV? #takemethere #Namibia http://ow.ly/i/1LKEs
Dunes as old as 21 million years http://ow.ly/juoI9 #fact via @TravelNewsNamib
#didyouknow Namibia is home to 676 of Southern Africa's 887 bird species
http://ow.ly/i/1LLsd #birdwatching Photo @mikaelcastro
What happens when you #empower locals to protect the environment?
http://ow.ly/jsPTF #Conservation #Namibia
5x Desert Elephants in 20yrs Kunene #Namibia http://ow.ly/i/1LIWa #conservation
#fact More http://bit.ly/YzQnI6 Photo @mikaelcastro
A #lonely jackal scours the desert coastline http://ow.ly/i/1LKMy #wildlife #Namibia
#Kitesurfing at 60kts? Give it a shot at the 2013 Ludertiz Speed Challenge in Namibia
http://ow.ly/jt0Uw
Only geological feature on earths surface visible from space:The Etosha Pan
http://ow.ly/i/1LFUr More http://bit.ly/14nvdB3 #photography
0 to over 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3secs http://ow.ly/i/1LJQ3 #Fast #Furious
#Conservation
RT @TravlandLeisure Life-changing adventures, from a Machu Picchu climb to a
desert safari in Namibia: http://tandl.me/RLXwiU
Discover a different Namibia in Owamboland: African palaces, post office trees &
shebeen life http://bit.ly/14BCDkf #culture
Fairies vs. Termites – who is your money on? http://bbc.in/YzLxeP
Young leopards, from as early as 3months, learn to hunt from the pros: Mom
http://ow.ly/i/1NYdR #Etosha #safari #Namibia
Ever visited the communal lands & traditional hut of the Owambo
people?http://bit.ly/10v2Rjf More here http://ow.ly/i/1OpX8
According to San fable, the hippo is so embarrassed by its looks, that it hides all but
its ears, nose and eyes below the water...
RT @smudgetikka The sands of Namibia, a stunning personal portrait from German
kids photographer Beatrice… http://goo.gl/fb/h7e4l
"This is not a job for everyone. It’s partly secret work. You must have honour."
#SaveTheRhino http://bit.ly/Zd5Scn via @TravelNewsNamibia