Namibia Second National Communication to UNFCCC 2011.pdf

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY| page 3ExecutiveINTRODUCTIONThe Republic of Namibia ratified the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995, and thusbecame legally obligated to adopt and implement policies andmeasures to mitigate the effects of climate change and to adapt tosuch changes. This Second National Communication (SNC) to theUNFCCC follows and builds on the Initial National Communication(INC) submitted in 2002, and has been prepared in fulfillment ofNamibia’s obligations to the UNFCCC under Articles 4 and 12.The Communication follows the UNFCCC guidelines and includesinformation on Namibia’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the year2000, as well as measures to mitigate emissions and adapt toclimate change in key sectors. The project was coordinated by theMinistry of Environment and Tourism (MET), through its Directorateof Environmental Affairs (DEA) and on behalf of the National ClimateChange Committee (NCCC). The Global Environment Facility (GEF),through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),provided funding.NATIONAL CIRCUMSTANCESGeography, climate and natural resourcesNamibia is situated on the Atlantic coast of southern Africa, witha climate strongly influenced by the cold Benguela Current andthe Tropic of Capricorn. The altitude range in Namibia is from sealevel to 2606 m. Much of the interior basin has a mean altitude of1000 m. Nearly half of the country’s surface is exposed bedrock,while young surficial deposits of the Kalahari and Namib desertscover the remainder. The varied geological formations contain asubstantial mineral resource, including diamondiferous deposits,coal and gas.Namibia is one of the driest countries south of the Sahara.The mean annual rainfall ranges from just above 700 mm in thenortheast to less than 25 mm in the southwest and west of thecountry. Most rain falls in the summer months (November to April)in the form of thunderstorms and showers, except in the southwestwhere winter rains account for at least half of the annual total.Temperatures are moderately cool along the coast, while the interioris moderately warm. Average annual maximum temperatures in thehottest months are usually above 30°C over most of the country,excluding the coastal belt where it is much cooler, and the aridsouth where mean temperatures rise to as high as 36°C.Water is scarce, rainfall erratic, and droughts are frequent.Lack of water is the key limitation to Namibia’s development. Highsolar radiation, low humidity and high temperatures lead to veryhigh evaporation and evapotranspiration rates. Surface watersources such as dams are subjected to high evaporation rates.Only about 1% of rainfall replenishes the groundwater aquifers thatmany Namibians depend on, and 2% runs off into surface waterresources. The perennial rivers lie on the borders, with the OrangeRiver in the south and the Kunene, Kavango, Kwando-Linyanti-Chobe and Zambezi Rivers in the north. The use of water fromperennial rivers is subject to negotiations with other riparian states.Rivers, springs, pans and wetlands within the territory of Namibiaare generally ephemeral. In the north central area, temporary waterbodies called oshanas form after rainfall. Current unconventionalsources include recycling of water in industrial processes, the reuseof water for industrial and irrigation purposes, the reclamation ofdomestic sewage effluent to potable water quality standards,artificial recharge of groundwater resources and desalination.Namibia is globally known for her remarkable variety of species,habitats and ecosystems. Worldwide it is one of the few dry landcountries with internationally recognised biodiversity “hotspots”.Marine and bird biodiversity are also high. In addition to the threeRamsar sites (Orange River mouth, Sandwich Harbour, Walvis Bay)there are eight Important Bird Areas (IBAs) including three coastalislands. Namibia’s biodiversity is both a fundamental basis forlivelihood generation and a national asset of significant value whichunderpins an important nature-based tourism industry.The main vegetation zones are desert (46%), savanna (37%),and dry woodlands and forests (17%). Less than 2% is arable land.Protected areas cover 13.8% of the land surface. Land tenuretakes three forms: freehold private land (43%) used for commercialfarming and wildlife management, communal land (37%) used forsubsistence farming, and municipal/town/other State land (1%).There are 63 registered Communal Conservancies on communallands.Economic sectorsAgriculture is severely constrained by lack of water and poor soils.Agricultural contribution to GDP is in the range 4.5-7%, but thesector supports over 70% of the population. Extensive livestockranching dominates, and includes cattle, small stock, and game.This sub-sector contributes just under 90% of agricultural GDP. Themajority of Namibians depend on rainfed subsistence agriculture,farming pearl millet, sorghum and maize. Rainfed crop productionis limited to higher rainfall areas in the north and north-east. Maizeand wheat are grown under irrigation on some commercial farms.Irrigated agriculture is concentrated in fertile areas with highannual rainfall or abundant surface of groundwater resources,and includes a variety of horticultural crops. Increased irrigationis planned (the Green Scheme). Irrigated lands are at risk of soilsalinisation under inadequate management practices.While forestry’s contribution to GDP is relatively low comparedto other renewable resource sectors, it plays an important role incommunity development. Commercial forest products include fuelwood, poles, sawn timber and non timber forest products. Themajority of rural communities (particularly in the higher rainfallareas of the north) depend directly on forest resources for use asfuel wood, building materials, fodder, food and medicine.Namibia has one of the most productive fishing grounds in theworld, based on the cold Benguela Current and associated nutrientupwelling. The off-shore commercial fishery, based on demersal(bottom dwelling) hake and other deep-sea species, represents thelargest component of the fishing industry. The commercial fishingand fish processing sectors significantly contribute to the economyin terms of employment, export earnings, and contribution to GDP.Significant research and management resources, coupled withNamibia Second National Communication to the UNFCCC