MUDUMU LANDSCAPE includes adjacent communal conservancies and private reserves or land areas with shared biodiversity management objectives and frameworks and compatible land use. The project focused on developing strategies for land uses in areas adjacent to existing protected areas and making sure that these are compatible with biodiversity conservation objectives. Within each landscape various activities are carried out that are intended to contribute to the greater economic scheme of things.
SPACE IS A LUXURY, OR IS IT A GIVEN?
As the late Albi Brückner once put it: “If Africa’s wildlife is to recover and survive for another millennium we need to invest in its future by increasing the size of existing national parks and private reserve areas to encompass complete natural systems.” He further added that “The ultimate dream of a Greater Namib Wilderness is an area with a minimum of fences in which former game migration routes have been reopened as far as possible, with the natural flora sufficiently recovered to allow the reintroduction of game species that once occurred there naturally.”
Core conservation area: Bwabwata National Park (Kwando Core Area) State-protected areas: Mudumu National Park, Nkasa Rupara National Park Communal conservancies: Balyerwa Conservancy, Dzoti Conservancy, Kwandu Conservancy, Mashi Conservancy, Mayuni Conservancy, Sobbe Conservancy, Wuparo Conservancy Community forests: Kwandu Community Forest, Lubuta Community Forest, Masida Community Forest, Sachona Community Forest
WINDHOEK GREEN BELT LANDSCAPE
Core conservation area: Daan Viljoen Game Park State-protected areas: Khomas Hochland Conservancy
However, despite fences falling and landscapes growing within the 5-year time frame, funding had a set expiration date. Progress of landscape-level conservation undeniably slowed down, if not came to a complete halt. While the Greater Sossusvlei-Namib Landscape is a great example of taking the cue and pursuing the ultimate conservation dream, everyone has not followed suit. Conservationists are dreaming big, but many challenges remain beyond a shadow of a doubt. In most parts of the world space has become a luxury, but Namibia still takes pride in its wide open spaces, unspoiled natural beauty and free-roaming wildlife. If there is one place in the world where this dream is attainable, is it not in Namibia? TNN
TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA WINTER 2018
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