Flagship parks in Erongo and Kunene ‘shielded’ from mining

Tranquillity in parts of Namibia’s most iconic protected areas has increasingly been disrupted by mining activity, according to concerns raised by environmentalists, tourism operators and local observers.In the Dorob and Namib-Naukluft national parks, particularly in the area stretching from Bloedkoppe through the Swakop River valley to Moon Landscape outlook, there have been frequent complaints about the persistent drone of machinery from nearby uranium mines, visible tyre tracks, borehole rigs and mobile toilets scattered across otherwise pristine landscapes.“You can’t go anywhere anymore just to hear nothing,” one local tour guide told Network Media Hub this week. “No matter how discreet they try to be, there’s always something happening somewhere.”It is against this backdrop that the revised National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas and Other Areas with High Value Species was brought to public consultation in Swakopmund on Tuesday. Despite the far-reaching implications of the document, the meeting drew little public attention, with some describing it as having taken place “under the radar”.Among the most significant elements of the revised policy is the full exclusion of Cape Cross Nature Reserve, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Dorob National Park and Skeleton Coast National Park from new mining activity. These areas, all situated in the Erongo and Kunene regions, were highlighted for their ecological, tourism and heritage importance.Cape Cross, which contributes N$4.2 million annually to the state, remains closed to new mining except for existing salt extraction deemed sustainable. The park is home to the world’s largest Cape fur seal colony, rare bird breeding areas and historic lichen fields.Namib-Naukluft National Park – generating around N$20 million in tourism revenue each year – includes the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage Site and the ancestral lands of the Topnaar community. Its desert crust ecosystems are especially fragile and unable to recover once disturbed.Dorob National Park, with globally important Welwitschia populations, archaeological heritage and Damara tern breeding sites, is also fully protected. However, concerns persist about the extent to which past and ongoing industrial activity in and around the park has already compromised the environment.Skeleton Coast National Park, identified in the revised policy as "possibly the most sensitive and most scenically attractive part of Namibia", is excluded from all new mining. The park includes rare estuarine systems, historic shipwreck sites, and habitats for endemic species such as the Nile soft-shelled turtle.Support tools While the exclusions are extensive, the policy makes provision for a limited number of exceptions. Existing exploration or mining rights issued before the new zonation will be honoured. In certain cases, mining may still be authorised in sensitive areas if it is deemed to be in the national interest, provided strict environmental safeguards, rehabilitation plans and offset measures are in place. The policy also allows for temporary exclusions in areas where biodiversity protection is linked to active agreements, such as custodianship schemes or community partnerships. Salt mining at Cape Cross, for example, continues under such a recognised exception.The revised policy introduces a ‘Decision Support Tool’ to guide licence decisions based on ecological and heritage sensitivity. It also mandates rehabilitation and biodiversity offset programmes, backed by enforceable financial guarantees.“Potentially, protected areas can be negatively impacted by mining and other land uses,” the executive directors of the ministries of environment and mining state in the policy foreword. “Because Namibia’s protected areas include environmentally sensitive desert and dryland regions, where the rate of ecological recovery is extremely slow, the potential for regeneration is very low.”Although mining continues to be a critical contributor to Namibia’s economy – accounting for about 17% of GDP – the revised policy acknowledges that more than 70% of this revenue comes from activity within or near protected areas. The intention is to phase out practices that are not aligned with sustainable development and conservation standards.The policy expands the exclusions to include biodiversity-rich communal conservancies, game farms and community forests, especially those with long-term conservation partnerships.

Flagship parks in Erongo and Kunene ‘shielded’ from mining

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-09

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Flagship parks in Erongo and Kunene ‘shielded’ from mining

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-09

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