usaid/nambia environmental threats and opportunities assessment

Increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict 12 and increased poaching, pressure on PAs as
rural food security is increasingly compromised.
In order to respond to the biomal shifts that will accompany climate change, wildlife populations must be able
to migrate. This demands landscape level corridors and improved connectivity between Namibia’s various
protected areas. (See Recommendations Section 6)
THREAT: HABITAT LOSS THROUGH LAND DEGRADATION
Historically, nomadic pastoralist societies in the more arid areas of the country adjusted to Namibia’s
naturally high climatic variability by moving seasonally with their livestock – an activity that helped
prevent land degradation and soil erosion. As a result of population expansion and the erection of fences,
traditional agricultural methods are either no longer viable (as in the case of nomadic pastoralism) or
have become increasingly unsustainable (as in the case of slash and burn cultivation 13 ). Furthermore,
commercial farmland has been severely overstocked and suffers from bush encroachment.
Soil salinization (caused by poorly managed irrigation schemes) is another form of land degradation
that threatens habitats. In addition, irrigation schemes demand the use of polluting pesticides and
fertilizers. Little information is available on the extent of soil erosion and salinization in Namibia,
although irrigated soils, in the Stampriet and Hardap areas as well as in the Swakop River and Orange
River valleys, show signs of salinization – particularly around Aussenkehr (Orange River valley), where it
is reported that this type of land degradation is extensive (R. Roeis, MAWRD, 2002 pers. comm.)
Human-induced changes to the natural fire regime. High intensity fires play a major role in
maintaining open savannas. However, increasing numbers of human-induced fires in Caprivi have begun
to result in losses of large trees, organic matter, and soil nutrients. This exposed soil is particularly
susceptible to erosion (Mendelsohn and Roberts 1997).
Deforestation. Most deforestation in Namibia results from land clearing for agriculture and wood
remains the primary energy source for a large proportion of the population, particularly in the NCAs
(Figure 1). If it occurs along rivers, deforestation impacts heavily on the healthy functioning of wetland
ecosystems and is a major cause of soil erosion, declining water quality and flood control.
THREAT: LACK OF SECURE TENURE OVER NATURAL RESOURCES
Although rural communities have been afforded limited user rights over some natural resources through
the establishment of conservancies and water-point committees, communities still do not have property
rights over land itself. The absence of appropriate tenure over land in the communal areas is believed to
be a major cause of the lack of effective systems of local resource management (Dewdney 1996; Jones,
2004).
12 A wide range of traditional methods are used to deter “problem animals" and conservancy, NGO and MET staff are
committed to trying to assist farmers in the protection of their crops and livestock (Mulonga et al 2003). The IRDNC has set
up a direct financial compensation scheme (HACCS) to help individual households that suffer losses due to wild animals.
13 In 1996 a total of 1719 km 2 had been cleared in Caprivi, an activity that has increased at a rate of about 4.1% each year
since 1943 (Mendelsohn and Roberts 1997). Today, due to increasing population pressure, more farmers clear bigger areas of
woodland and grassland and are forced to reduce the fallow period considerably. Consequently, the cycle of woodland
regrowth and soil regeneration is broken and the centuries old traditional practice of slash and burn cultivation has become
unsustainable, causing excessive loss of soil nutrients and increased rates of deforestation.
USAID/NAMIBIA ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSESSMENT 39