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Basic Project INFO

  • FOCAL AREA:
    Biodiversity
  • PROJECT TITLE:
    Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN)
  • COUNTRY:
      Namibia
  • PROJECT STATUS:
      On going (2005-2011)
      GEF Grant:
      US$ 8.550m
      Co-finance:
      US$ 33.677m
      Project Cost:
      US$ 42.227m
  • PROJECT DOWNLOAD (WORD)

Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN)

Facts and figures

Namibia’s central position in Africa’s arid southwest allows a high level of rich and globally significant biodiversity. Approximately 75 percent of the mammal species richness of Southern Africa exists in Namibia, with 14 endemic species, The country, acclaimed for its species richness, habitat diversity and biological distinctiveness, is an endemism hot spot for many species, especially mammals, birds, and amphibians. Namibia also houses some 4,350 species and subspecies of higher plants, of which 687 species (17 percent) are endemic. In addition, 1,541 insect species (24 percent), 71 species of reptiles (28 percent), 14 bird species (2 percent) and 18 species of arachnid (11 percent) are known endemics. Namibia has also been an evolutionary hub for certain groups of organisms like melons, succulent plants, solifuges, geckos and tortoises.

The country’s internationally significant biodiversity hotspots include the Namib, the planet’s oldest desert, which extends along Namibia’s coast and hosts a large number of endemic species, many of which have evolved extraordinary survival strategies; the Sperrgebiet and the Namib Escarpment. Namibia occupies a highly strategic location in terms of transboundary conservation, bordering biodiversity rich areas of countries such as Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola, and offering a refuge for endangered species such as black rhino and cheetah.Currently, about 50 percent of all species in Namibia are of some conservation concern

Namibia is the only country in the world to specifically address habitat conservation and protection of natural resources in its constitution. It has already established an impressive system of state-managed Protected Areas, comprising 20 game park and nature reserve sites covering 13.8 percent of the terrestrial area (114,000 km2). In addition, 10-20 percent of Namibia’s private land (freehold land) is estimated as being dedicated to wildlife management; this includes 148 private reserves and commercial hunting farms.

Although the PA system is the cornerstone of conservation, a strong community-based conservancy programme has also been established. Wildlife conservancies, which particularly benefit the rural, generally unemployed, population, have become one of the fastest growing areas of economic development in Namibia. Most conservancies and private reserves cater simultaneously to conservation and productive uses of land, such as livestock husbandry and farming. They act as buffers to the State PA system, providing a transition zone from more intensive to less intensive land uses.

Although this combination of state-managed PAs, conservancies and private reserves offer some of the best prospects for protecting biodiversity in southern Africa, these areas currently operate as a patchwork rather than an integrated system, undermining their considerable conservation potential.

Project description

The project’s immediate objective is to improve management effectiveness of Namibia’s national system of Protected Areas in order to sustainably manage the country’s natural resources, protect biodiversity and contribute to equitable economic and social development. Barriers to existing management effectiveness include a fragmented policy framework, weak institutional and human capacities, incomplete bio-geographic coverage and the absence of tested public-private-community management partnerships.

The project is envisaged as two phases, both of which place strong emphasis on the progressive introduction of best practices through proactive knowledge management. The current Phase 1 (2006-2010) will focus on: Improving the policy and legal framework, institutional capacity and mechanisms concerning PA management and financing; supporting Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) initiatives on management and tourism development at four major parks (Namib-Naukluft, Etosha, Bwabwata, and the /Ai-/Ais/Richtersveld trans-frontier park); establishing a new park (Sperrgebiet NP); and harmonizing management between parks in the Namib Desert biome, and between Etosha NP and the Skeleton Coast Park. Phase 1 also seeks to identify and fill gaps of under-representation in the national network; and establish long-term financial mechanisms for PAs.

If second phase takes place it will focus on investing in the consolidation, expansion and management of the PA network by developing parks in biomes that are currently not represented in the national network; upgrading management planning for the remaining parks; expanding the smaller parks where feasible; and testing long-term sustainable financing mechanisms for parks set up during Phase 1.

The project’s preparatory pdf phase (2004-2005) also produced important outputs – a project document; an economic analysis and feasibility study for parks financing; a capacity assessment for parks management in conservation at individual, institutional and systemic levels; a conservation needs assessment; and a monitoring and evaluation plan.

SELECTED PROJECT RESULTS

General

  • Financial, technical and advisory support has been provided to the development of the MET’s five-year strategic plan, which is expected to be finalized and approved by early 2008.  
  • The project has also played a catalytic role in the MET’s efforts to raise additional co-financing for the tourism sector, including a US$ 96.9 million proposal submitted to the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). The proposed tourism project areas coincide with SPAN field demonstration sites, which have been visited by MCA organizers.
  • It is estimated that as much as 50 percent of the tourism funding will be invested in protected areas. This will substantially increase the project’s impact, and allow the recommendations of the project’s study on the economic value of the PA system in Namibia to be implemented.
  • A situation analysis and two major national workshops on human-wildlife conflict (HWC) were organized to support policy development and the creation of a standardized HWC reporting format.
  • A consultant has been appointed to conduct a tourism potential study in the Mangetti Game Park area.

Legal

  • The project provided technical and financial support to the consultative process for the Policy on Tourism and Wildlife Concession on State Land which was approved by the Cabinet in June 2007.
  • The project helped finalize the Parks Wildlife Management Bill and develop a draft Human Wildlife Conflict Management (HWCM) policy which is expected to be finalized in 2007. An interim measure, which follows the HWCM policy direction, has been approved to respond to HWCM issues while the policy is finalized. A standardized HWC reporting format has been also finalized and appropriate training organized.
  • A National Policy on Protected Areas, Neighbours and Resident People has also been drafted.
  • The project has assumed the secretariat role for the task force reviewing the proposed Parks and Wildlife Management (PWM) Bill.

Training

  • A number of specialized training and capacity building courses to enhance PA management were supported, including collaborative PA management, law enforcement, first aid rescue course, 4x4 off-road driving and basic vehicle maintenance, as well as development of strategic and park management plans. 
  • Incentive mechanisms to enhance park management were developed and launched. The Park Innovation Grant aims to recognize and promote innovations and creativity within the park field staff while a MET field staff award was launched to recognize outstanding contributions from field-based staff. The first award ceremony took place in July 2007 hosted by senior MET members, including the Minister, and received good media coverage.
  • A training plan has been developed for the Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM). The first training courses to be held were on carnivore immobilization and GIS training.
  • The project’s training plan was based on training needs and capacity assessments with input from staff members. Courses will be funded by SPAN which is also helping raise additional funding for long-term diploma and degree courses.

HIV/AIDS

  • The project has established and is coordinating the HIV/AIDS – Environment Working Group (HEWG) with participation from MET, UNDP, UNAIDS, national NGOs and the Ministry of Health. The HEWG has been instrumental in identifying the need for, and commissioning, a study on the assessment of the linkages between HIV/AIDS and the environment, using parks as the entry point. The HEWG is currently working on the development of funding proposals to cover the main project, which could be a transboundary initiative for Namibia and Botswana.
  • Conservadom, a conservation-branded condom, is an innovative communications tool produced by the HEWG. Other communications materials include a brochure and a series of posters .
  • HEWG Namibia concluded a partnership understanding with similar stakeholders in Botswana. A great number of products and processes followed by HEWG Namibia are being replicated (where appropriate) by HEWG Botswana.
  • The MET’s policy on HIV/AIDS, which been signed by the department’s Minister, was completed with technical support from the Namibia Association of Community-based Natural Resource Management Support Organizations (NACSO), MET and SPAN staff members.
  • Political support has been secured and initial consultations held for the establishment of a new park in the Etosha National Park/Skeleton Coast Park demonstration site area. The project funded a ministerial consultative meeting to discuss the vision for the new park.

Etosha Centenary

  • The project is supporting the Etosha Centenary celebrations marking 100 years of parks in Namibia which are taking place from March 2007 to March 2008. The President of the Republic of Namibia is the patron of the celebrations. While focusing on Namibia’s flagship Etosha National Park, the celebrations will also cover all Namibia’s other parks.
  • A commemorative event is planned for 28 September, to be held at Namutoni, Etosha National Park. It will be officiated by the President and attended by other dignitaries including the former President, SADC Ministers of Environment, as well as many local stakeholders and community members. 
  • Assistance from the project has included designing and printing of the official EC logo for posters, pins and stickers; publishing a special edition of the project’s Sandpaper newsletter and a guide to the waterholes in Etosha National Park; support to special events including the official launch in March 2007 and the official commemoration in September; collaboration on the production of special commemorative postage stamps; technical assistance and support to the development of three information centers; procurement assistance; design and distribution of a new park permit and assistance to the organizing committee.
  • The park is currently undergoing rigorous upgrades to infrastructure, and new information centres are being developed at all three resorts.
  • Milestones from the first 100 years of the Etosha National Park were compiled by SPAN offices to provide the first ‘intimate’ institutional knowledge of the park, as well as to serve as a model for other parks.
  • Moonlit walks are among the special activities that the MET is organizing to generate funds for the parks.
  • The celebrations have already generated positive publicity for the park, as well as increased appreciation to the role that parks and wildlife play in the national economy, national development plans and national heritage. The centenary is also being used to gain publicity for the importance of PAs at national events, trade fairs and at tourism expos, locally and abroad.
  • An Etosha Centenary Exhibition is planned for November, in collaboration with the National Art Gallery in Windhoek. This will showcase memorablilia in the form of artworks, crafts, photographs, paintings, stamps, sculotures and other artifacts in celebration of Etosha National Park. The event will be officially opened by His Excellency the President who is Patron of the Etosha Centenary.

Demonstration sites

Etosha Skeleton Coast

  • A technical committee for the new Etosha Skeleton Coast Link demonstration site was formed with full involvement of local stakeholders; including the Kunene Regional Council, local traditional authorities, adjacent communal conservancies, current concessionaires, and NGOs operating in the area. In September 2006, the communities gave conditional approval to the park concept after a two-day meeting of all traditional chiefs in the area. This new park is very important as a field demonstration site as it will contribute greatly to SPAN’s demonstration objectives of restoring traditional wildlife migration routes
  • SPAN also facilitated organization of three technical committee meetings in different locations in the region in September and November, 2006 and February 2007. The meeting in February was combined with site inspections to check areas where the communities requested slight amendments in present concession area boundaries. The community gave a go-ahead for the MET to begin work on a contractual park agreement and SPAN is providing technical assistance in drafting the agreement.

Ai-Ais Hotspring Park

  • There has been towards operationalization of the Ai-Ais–Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. The project contributed towards establishing a new park management based in the town of Rosh Pinah; construction of new entry control point in preparation for the opening of the new transfrontier border consolidation of signage in parks; organization of a workshop on alien invasive plant control; organization of a training for rescue and first aid in preparation for the hiking season; and introduction of the incident book local level monitoring system. 
  • The project is also assisting the MET in strengthening its participation in the Joint Management Board (JMB) of the transfrontier park, by organizing preparation meetings for Namibian participants. Previously, Namibian JMB members from different line ministries participated without any prior consultations among themselves.

Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili (BMM) Complex: 

  • SPAN has provided financial assistance for a land survey of the new boundaries of the Bwabwata National Park in preparation for the re-proclamation of the park’s status, and for drafting a MoU between the MET and the San community resident in Bwabwata.  The proclamation and MoU are expected by mid-2008. 
  • SPAN provided technical support for the development process of the BMM complex wide management plan and tourism plan, as well as park-specific management plans. SPAN also provided technical and financial support for consolidation of the incident book local level monitoring system and a wildlife co-management forum. 

Sperrgebiet

  • While preparations for the proclamation of the new park are being made SPAN has provided administrative support for finalizing the park boundaries, funding for a mobile home for the new warden, and for consolidation of patrol camp facilities. It is expected that the Sperrgebiet will be proclaimed in 2008 coinciding with the centenary of diamond mining in Namibia.
  • Close working relations have been established with stakeholders such as Namdeb, Rosh Pinah and Skorpion Mines. The SPAN field coordinator and park managers in the Sperrgebiet worked closely with Namdeb, local community and business people on the rehabilitation of Hohenfels Campsite, resulting in further strengthening of stakeholder relations.
  • When proclaimed, the new park will raise the representation of the endemic-rich succulent Karoo biome under protection to over 90 percent from its current level of 11 percent.

Community and public awareness

  • The project is organizing a Friends of Parks Society, made up of institutional, corporate, and personal members in Namibia and internationally. The society will draw together concerned citizens who want to support the national protected area network. Possibilities for involvement include: in-kind donation of special skills; volunteers to help create and run environmental and cultural education programs, volunteers to help with routine maintenance in parks (especially maintaining walking trails), and financial donations. The society is expected to help heighten the profile of national parks and environmental conservation, and will induce civic pride, helping the parks to truly be a focal point of national pride and Namibian identity.

Communications

  • Seven issues of the quarterly park newsletter “Sandpaper” have been published, including a special Etosha Centenary edition, for which page numbers were increased and the circulation raised from 5,000 to 10,000 copies. Sandpaper is circulated to all MET staff, tourists and park stakeholders including conservancies, government offices, parliamentarians, school libraries and foreign missions.
  • Park Talk - a regular bi-monthly evening presentation and discussion session forum was launched in 2005. Meetings usually include a presentation from a selected individual or group on a selected topic, followed by a discussion session. Ten Park-Talk sessions have been organized attracting audiences of over 100 people. The SPAN project also runs ParkNet – an email based discussion forum where members can debate matters related to park management in Namibia.
  • Advocacy materials have been developed to raise awareness and source additional co-financing. They include a power point presentation, an MET discussion paper and a pamphlet.

Partners etc

Implementing Agency is UNDP. Executing Agency is Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)

Website: http://www.span.org.na/

Newsletter: Sandpaper

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