Environmental Management

1. Research how the coastal region has been managed over time. Refer to indigenous or
original custodians if applicable: - Amanda
Given its inhospitable climate and conditions, life is not abundant on Skeleton Coast. With an
average annual rainfall of 550 mm, the plants that do manage to survive are being kept alive by
the moisture of the fog. Insects rely on the fog as well as decomposing plant material that blows
into the area from inland. The Skeleton Coast National Park helps manage the Skeleton Coast
by providing animals with freshwater, vegetation and a reliable food source.

2. Identify ways this coastal environment is managed now (e.g. fencing and signs,
restricted parking, native vegetation):
The Republic of Namibia has been setting up, implementing and supporting monitoring systems
for ecosystem health, key habitats and biodiversity building on existing systems used elsewhere
since 2014. They are also identifying priority baseline information needs and has also been
implementing monitoring systems for human impacts on important components since 2015. The
purpose is to protect and conserve the diversity of landscapes, habitats and special sites of the
Skeleton Coast and National Park in healthy and productive condition within the context of the
Greater Namib Area.

Furthermore, the Republic of Namibia is engaging with Angolan authorities and establishing a
communication and join management system with them, in order to protect, monitor and
manage the functioning of the ecosystem.

The Republic of Namibia is attempting to remove all unnecessary evidence of human activity,
excluding agreed infrastructure that has practical or tourism value by commissioning a
rehabilitation plan and also identifying responsibilities for rehabilitation during 2014. They are
currently implementing rehabilitation in areas and on aspects of respective responsibilities,
starting with affordable priorities and using job-creating opportunities since 2015.

Wildlife population management is a vital aspect of how the coast is managed. They are
designing and implementing integrated monitoring systems for rainfall, vegetation condition and
wildlife numbers, age, sex classes and condition. The republic is also obtaining historical
information on wildlife diversity, number and extinctions to further enhance their understanding
and improve their management. In addition to that, the government is currently proactively
reviewing information on key variables to determine any management actions are necessary.

The Republic of Namibia is maintaining a ‘fence-free’ coast by only incorporating patrol and
fences as appropriate since 2013.

3. Investigate (or suggest) the environmentally sustainable practices that preserve this
coastal environment: - Amanda
Furthermore, the Republic of Namibia is reinforcing environmentally sustainable practices to
preserve Skeleton Coast. For example, they are coming up with many ideas to protect and
conserve the diversity of landscapes, habitats and special sites of the Skeleton Coast and
National Park in a healthy and productive condition. Solutions include the banning of the use of
potions, pesticides or other toxic chemicals, adopting a hands-off approach but a hands-on in
terms of preventing or minimising damage to important habitats and species. This also includes
the monitoring of human impacts on landscapes, ecosystems, habitats and species with
particular attention to the health of populations of species high on the food chain such as key
predators and scavengers, since if these species prosper, it follows that the base of the food
chain is likely to be diverse and in good condition.

However, the key point to preserving Skeleton Coast is to protect, monitor, understand and
manage the functioning of the ecosystem. This includes the protection of the lower Kunen River
from invasive and destructive land use such as mining and the establishment of strong relations
with Angolan authorities so that compatible strategies are followed on both sides of the river.

In addition to that, the government is attempting to remove all unnecessary evidence of human
activity or occupation from the coast and park, excluding agreed infrastructure that has practical
or tourism value. To achieve this, they are identifying responsibilities for rehabilitation in regards
to both technical and financial and also the commission of a rehabilitation plan based on an
inventory and criteria such as log of areas, prioritization, costs and timelines.

The wildlife population management will be managed through self-regulation, at levels where
biomass carrying capacity is considered conservatively appropriate and sustainable. However,
hunting and consumptive off-takes of terrestrial wildlife with be strictly forbidden.

To maintain a ‘fence-free’ coast, the Republic of Namibia is only fencing essential sites. They
are removing all fences excluding those that have strategic value. However, secure fencing
around refuse dumps and other secure areas to avoid breach by humans and scavengers will
be maintained.

4. Examine the advantages and disadvantages for protecting the environment (e.g. protect
biodiversity, economic utilisation of the environment): - Angeleena

There are many advantages and disadvantages for protecting the Skeleton Coast. The
advantages include having a more diverse and beautiful landscape, more animal habitats and
therefore a greater wildlife population and finally economic benefits from tourism in the region.
The Skeleton Coast is the second biggest tourist attraction in Namibia, after the Etosha National
Park and it provides many employment opportunities for people in the poorer areas of Namibia.
It earns a fair amount of revenue for Namibia and thus getting rid of the Skeleton Coast would
result in a huge loss of revenue. As Namibia is a relatively poor nation, attractions such as the
Skeleton Coast are very important as it provides a lot of revenue for the nation.
The Skeleton Coast is a beautiful landscape and it includes sand dunes, beaches, and
extensive saltpans, which are thought to cover ancient shipwrecks. Remnants of old and new
shipwrecks and the shelters of early inhabitants and explorers who struggled to survive near the
coastline and desert are among the sites of historical interest for many tourists.

There are also many wildlife species in Skeleton Coast which is unique to the area, such as
desert-adapted elephants, rhinos, desert lions, brown hyenas, jackals, giraffes, seals, oryx, kudus
and zebra. There are also many plant species such as welwitschias, Nara melons, several lithops
succulent plants, lichen and pencil bush. Not protecting the environment would lead to loss of these
species.

As there aren’t many current plans for the Skeleton Coast, there aren’t many disadvantages for
protecting the environment except for the cost and effort of managing the environment.

5. Identify why people have different views to environmental management (e.g.

government development projects versus community preservation action)

There are currently no community led conservation programs for the Skeleton Coast however
the Namibian Government has a few plans for the Skeleton Coast such as new buildings,
aircraft and tourism infrastructure. These plans are scheduled to encourage economic gain from
the area, however, these plans do not threaten the Skeleton Coast and the government also
wants to implement rules and regulations in order to limit any potential damage to the
environment. For the proposed aircraft, there will be regulations such as the “no-flying”
restriction below 1000m, no Flights over the Kunene mouth except for emergency or nature
conservation purposes and special consideration for noise pollution.