the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 99
Significantly, as a result of the downscaling of mines in the region the population
has fallen from 11,764 in 1996.
Of the Municipality’s population, the great majority live in the towns of Alexander
Bay and Port Nolloth, both located on the coast. Most other residents live in the
other small towns: Kuboes, Sandrift, Sendelingsdrift, Lekkersing and
Eksteenfontein.
The Conservancy lands, however, are very sparsely populated with no permanent
residence. The people who do live in the protected area are semi-nomadic goat and
sheep herders, most of whom exhibit a transhumance lifestyle. Because of the
nature of nomadism, it is difficult to know exactly the number of people residing in
the Conservancy; however a 2005 estimate concluded that up to 300 herders
reside inside the Conservancy, some only at certain times of the year and with an
overall residence depending largely on the rains. Past estimates have been made
by mapping activities and through the development of the Conservancy
Infrastructure Plan, but studies are planned to determine the number and
movements of seasonal livestock posts.
The Richtersveld National Park has few semi-nomadic sheep and goat herders, the
Helskloof Provincial Nature Reserve has no inhabitants and the Communal Grazing
Area consists of scattered groups of sheep and goat herders with little permanent
settlement outside of the small towns.