Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

NACOMA Project - Preparation phaseRapid Assessment of the Development Plans, Biodiversity Conservation Projects and Socio-Economic Situation of the Namib Coastal RegionsKey Plans and ProjectsManagement and TourismDevelopment Plan for the NamibNaukluft National Park: the Planpresents the values, policies andprinciples on which managementdecisions in the Park should bemade. Currently in draft version fordiscussion.Relevance to NACOMA• MET envisions similar plans for all protected areas and therefore the Plan and the process through which it was preparedprovide important “lessons learned” that should be applied to the other protected areas.• The Plan is based on a discussion of the Park’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats undertaken by MET staff.The Plan states the need for collaboration at all levels and the integration of the Park in the socio-economic landscape toachieve the potential benefits that could arise from the vision for the Park, and NACOMA can support furtherdissemination and discussion of the Plan with key stakeholders in the region to make sure they share the same vision for thePark and can thus more effectively contribute to, and share the benefits from it.• The Plan recognises the need for training to implement a new style of management that focuses not only on biologicalissues but also requires social, economic and business skills. The procurement process provided for in the plan for much ofthe investment and improved skills required from the private sector will constitute key opportunities for NACOMA supportto strengthening the link between protected areas, Regional Councils and rural communities.• The Plan recognises that the current Park boundaries are not the most efficient for conservation of the Namib region’sbiodiversity and thus calls for an improvement of the conservation status of the area, in particular the formal protection ofthe coast and immediate marine environment. Ensuring adequate protection of the coastal and marine biodiversityenvironments is key to NACOMA and requires enhanced collaboration between different jurisdictions (MET and MFMR)and adequate legal protection. NACOMA support in this case will be in terms of strengthening the institutional and legalframework for coastal zone management through a participatory policy development process.• The Plan considers tourism concessions to be awarded over limited time periods in specified areas. NACOMA can supporttargeted investments proposed by communities or private sector/communities joint ventures.• Collaboration with regional and local authorities, which is highlighted in the plan, can be facilitated by the process ofcapacity building and institutional strengthening for environmental management and biodiversity conservation thatNACOMA will support. Adequate mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that the Topnaars that live in the park takepart in this dialogue and also accrue benefits.• NACOMA can also support activities targeted at environmental education of the people in the region, especially plannersand those that do not know their coast.28