Namibia Energy & Environment: 2010 and beyond

Biodiversity Conservation: Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN)

National Implementing Partner: Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management +264 61 284 2505 2006 -2012

Key Issues: UNCBD

Project Status: Ending

Location: Namibia, Windhoek

Contact person: Samson Mulonga, Project Coordinator

Goals and objectives

The goal of the project is sustainable management of renewable natural resources protects biodiversity while contributing to equitable economic and social development. Tourism is the third biggest industry in the country and shows the most promise for growth amongst the existing production sectors. With the right mechanisms, Protected Areas (PA) tourism benefits can be spread far and deep into the regional and national economy, and improved PA management systems could substantially contribute to poverty reduction, particularly in areas and communities adjacent to the PAs.

The overall objective is increased management effectiveness of the national PA network for biodiversity conservation.

Description / Background

Namibia’s dryland ecosystems are a globally significant repository of biodiversity, acclaimed for their species richness, habitat diversity and biological distinctiveness. The country has established an impressive System of Protected Areas, managed by the State, which constitutes a cornerstone of its conservation programme. This system comprises 20 protected areas, covering 13.8% of the terrestrial area (114,000 km2). There is huge potential for these areas to be woven together to form a tight, cohesive and effective network of protected areas, providing an effective buffer against threats to biodiversity.

However, a number of barriers are hindering movement toward improving PA management effectiveness. These include: a fragmented policy framework; weak institutional capacities, weak human capacities for PA operations, incomplete bio-geographic coverage, and the absence of tested mechanisms for public-private-community partnerships. Intervention is needed to lift these barriers in order to improve management effectiveness in the PA system as a whole. The project will address this need. It will specifically focus on State Protected Areas and on terrestrial ecosystems, as well as to complement other initiatives in production landscapes and in coastal and marine ecosystems. The project is divided into two phases, the first with a six-year duration. The first phase – which is the subject of this proposal – will focus on three broad areas of intervention: 1) strengthening systemic capacity, namely the enabling legal/policy environment and financial mechanisms for PA management; 2) strengthening the institutional capacity for PA management; and 3) demonstrating new ways and means of PA management, including partnerships with other government agencies, local communities and the private sector, to add to the range of options currently available. These interventions are critical to improve management effectiveness in the PA system as a whole. Activities under each component will focus on the removal of barriers hindering the management performance of the PA system.

Building on the solid foundation achieved during Phase 1, and subject to satisfaction of agreed performance criteria being satisfied, the second phase will focus on the further consolidation and expansion of the PA network. This will include the operationalisation of new PA categories, as needed, to create PAs on non-State land and to strengthen private reserves. A strong emphasis is placed on the replication of best practices within Namibia and elsewhere through proactive knowledge management.

Table 1: Project outcomes

Table 2: Project Budget

Selected Partners

• Government–MET,MFMR,MME, MAWF, MoF and MLR
• Non-governmental–NNF,NACSO IRDNC,IDRFN
• Parastatals- NWR,NTB
• Others- Tertiary institutions and Researchers and Farmers

Funding is provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) www.thegef.org/gef/gef_country_prg/NA

 Contact Details:

C/O The National Project Director: Director of Parks and Wildlife Management

Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)

Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management

Private Bag

Tel. 284 2505

Website: www.met.gov.na

C/O The Head of Energy and Environment Programme

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Energy & Environment Unit

Private Bag 13329, Klein Windhoek

Tel. + 264 61 204 6111 /6231

Website:www.undp.un.na