Damage repair prioritised in Namibia’s coastal parks
Protecting fragile ecosystems from human impact
An environmental assessment has revealed damage to ancient Welwitschia plants caused by irresponsible driving.
The environment and tourism ministry has partnered with a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Namibia team in an ambitious effort to identify and restore some of the country’s most environmentally fragile sites.
The joint initiative focuses on Dorob National Park and Skeleton Coast Park – two protected areas that form part of Namibia’s internationally celebrated conservation landscape.
Ministry field staff and WWF conservation specialists undertook a multi-day scouting mission across the parks, covering hundreds of kilometres of rugged coastline and arid terrain. Their aim was to identify and assess priority sites where human activity has left visible and often severe degradation.
According to WWF, the team documented a range of damage types.
These included illegal off-road vehicle tracks slicing across fragile dune systems, disused borrow pits scarring the landscape, and derelict mining infrastructure left behind from earlier industrial activity. In several cases, the damage was concentrated in areas of high ecological value and tourism interest.
Terrace Bay, Torra Bay and the Uniab Delta Waterfall – well-known destinations for visitors seeking remote natural beauty – were among the worst affected. The Uniab Delta, a rare desert oasis, has faced growing pressure from uncontrolled access, threatening both its unique plant life and the wildlife that depends on it.
Among the most alarming discoveries were those at Messum Crater, a geological wonder that also hosts the legendary Welwitschia Valley.
Here, inspectors observed a surge in new vehicle tracks fragmenting the delicate terrain. More troubling still, they found clear evidence of vehicles driving directly over ancient Welwitschia plants – some believed to be more than a thousand years old. These plants are uniquely adapted to the harsh desert climate, yet remain highly vulnerable to physical damage.
Restoration and prevention
WWF Namibia, in close collaboration with the ministry, is developing a comprehensive restoration strategy.
Plans include the installation of barrier fences to prevent further off-road driving in sensitive areas, as well as the placement of clear and informative signage to guide responsible visitor behaviour.
Interactive digital maps will highlight vulnerable sites and no-go zones, helping park staff, tour operators and visitors understand where caution is needed.
Public awareness campaigns, driven through social media and supported by community-led outreach, will form a key part of the approach.
Linking communities to conservation
The initiative is part of the Skeleton Coast–Etosha Conservation Bridge Programme, which is supported by the Legacy Landscape Fund. The programme is designed to strengthen ecological connectivity between key conservation areas while ensuring that local communities benefit from and participate in sustainable land management.
WWF emphasised that actively involving people in protecting the places they depend on reinforces the principle that conservation success relies as much on public engagement as on formal regulation.
Communities living near these parks often maintain deep cultural, economic and historical ties to the land, and their participation will be vital to safeguarding it for future generations.
The joint initiative focuses on Dorob National Park and Skeleton Coast Park – two protected areas that form part of Namibia’s internationally celebrated conservation landscape.
Ministry field staff and WWF conservation specialists undertook a multi-day scouting mission across the parks, covering hundreds of kilometres of rugged coastline and arid terrain. Their aim was to identify and assess priority sites where human activity has left visible and often severe degradation.
According to WWF, the team documented a range of damage types.
These included illegal off-road vehicle tracks slicing across fragile dune systems, disused borrow pits scarring the landscape, and derelict mining infrastructure left behind from earlier industrial activity. In several cases, the damage was concentrated in areas of high ecological value and tourism interest.
Terrace Bay, Torra Bay and the Uniab Delta Waterfall – well-known destinations for visitors seeking remote natural beauty – were among the worst affected. The Uniab Delta, a rare desert oasis, has faced growing pressure from uncontrolled access, threatening both its unique plant life and the wildlife that depends on it.
Among the most alarming discoveries were those at Messum Crater, a geological wonder that also hosts the legendary Welwitschia Valley.
Here, inspectors observed a surge in new vehicle tracks fragmenting the delicate terrain. More troubling still, they found clear evidence of vehicles driving directly over ancient Welwitschia plants – some believed to be more than a thousand years old. These plants are uniquely adapted to the harsh desert climate, yet remain highly vulnerable to physical damage.
Restoration and prevention
WWF Namibia, in close collaboration with the ministry, is developing a comprehensive restoration strategy.
Plans include the installation of barrier fences to prevent further off-road driving in sensitive areas, as well as the placement of clear and informative signage to guide responsible visitor behaviour.
Interactive digital maps will highlight vulnerable sites and no-go zones, helping park staff, tour operators and visitors understand where caution is needed.
Public awareness campaigns, driven through social media and supported by community-led outreach, will form a key part of the approach.
Linking communities to conservation
The initiative is part of the Skeleton Coast–Etosha Conservation Bridge Programme, which is supported by the Legacy Landscape Fund. The programme is designed to strengthen ecological connectivity between key conservation areas while ensuring that local communities benefit from and participate in sustainable land management.
WWF emphasised that actively involving people in protecting the places they depend on reinforces the principle that conservation success relies as much on public engagement as on formal regulation.
Communities living near these parks often maintain deep cultural, economic and historical ties to the land, and their participation will be vital to safeguarding it for future generations.
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