Cutting out Etosha fence middlemen
Over the past five years, only 118 kilometres of the Etosha boundary fence has been upgraded, while 712 kilometres remain. With current budgetary allocations, the upgrade can take 10 more years.
The environment ministry therefore decided to take a new approach and cut out the middlemen, which will save hundreds of millions.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta announced this at the Etosha National Park boundary fence construction and Friends of the Parks programme launch.
He said the ministry has decided to deploy staff members to upgrade and construct the boundary fence instead of using private companies or contractors. “If we were to continue using private companies or contractors to construct the game-proof fence at Etosha National Park, it is estimated that it would cost in excess of N$700 000 per kilometre.”
For the 712 kilometres still remaining, the project would cost the government an estimated N$500 million, he said. “Through the use of our staff members and other assistants and volunteers, it is estimated that we will spend less than N$10 million over the next three years to undertake this work.”
According to Shifeta, this will cover the costs of additional materials such as poles and wires as well as operational costs such as camping allowances and protective clothing.
He said a three-year action plan has been developed and approved by Cabinet to help conduct this activity in a coordinated manner and at an accelerated speed. Manpower from neighbouring conservancies and farms will also be used to supplement the efforts of staff, while other volunteer organisations will also be welcomed, he said. According to Shifeta, the Etosha boundary fence is an extremely long perimeter, totalling 824 kilometres, and passes through the Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions.
The boundary consists of three types of fences: A stock-proof fence of 1.2m, a game-proof fence of 2.4m with netting wire and a section of 14km of which 1.6m consists mainly of cable.
“With the current annual budgetary allocation for the fence upgrade, completion of the upgrade of the fence will take another 10 years or more.”
Shifeta said this will have severe negative implications as poaching and human-wildlife conflict incidences will increase, and the general risk to wildlife protection and species conservation will be heightened. He further said the current fence has deteriorated to such an extent that in some areas it does not exist. This situation has caused livestock to graze in the park and human-wildlife conflict incidents are being experienced with communities and farmers in the area. He said the risk of livestock diseases as a result of cattle grazing in the park with wild animals will increase. “This could have far-reaching economic implications on the country's beef industry and could potentially put the export of beef to European, American, Chinese and other export markets in jeopardy.”
Shifeta said ministry officials from the head office and the director of parks will visit the project every second month, if not monthly, to conduct inspections on the progress and quality of work, while he will join staff members in the construction.
A committee to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the construction has also been established and will be chaired by the ministry's executive director, Teo Nghitila. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Parks programme was also launched. The programme encourages donors, the private sector and other stakeholders to get involved and support the development and management of Namibia's national parks and other conservation areas.
The programme will support the environment ministry in developing, expanding, managing and promoting a system of sustainable national parks and conservation areas that represent biodiversity, tourism and heritage assets through innovation and best practice for the just and equitable benefit of current and future generations.
ELLANIE SMIT
The environment ministry therefore decided to take a new approach and cut out the middlemen, which will save hundreds of millions.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta announced this at the Etosha National Park boundary fence construction and Friends of the Parks programme launch.
He said the ministry has decided to deploy staff members to upgrade and construct the boundary fence instead of using private companies or contractors. “If we were to continue using private companies or contractors to construct the game-proof fence at Etosha National Park, it is estimated that it would cost in excess of N$700 000 per kilometre.”
For the 712 kilometres still remaining, the project would cost the government an estimated N$500 million, he said. “Through the use of our staff members and other assistants and volunteers, it is estimated that we will spend less than N$10 million over the next three years to undertake this work.”
According to Shifeta, this will cover the costs of additional materials such as poles and wires as well as operational costs such as camping allowances and protective clothing.
He said a three-year action plan has been developed and approved by Cabinet to help conduct this activity in a coordinated manner and at an accelerated speed. Manpower from neighbouring conservancies and farms will also be used to supplement the efforts of staff, while other volunteer organisations will also be welcomed, he said. According to Shifeta, the Etosha boundary fence is an extremely long perimeter, totalling 824 kilometres, and passes through the Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions.
The boundary consists of three types of fences: A stock-proof fence of 1.2m, a game-proof fence of 2.4m with netting wire and a section of 14km of which 1.6m consists mainly of cable.
“With the current annual budgetary allocation for the fence upgrade, completion of the upgrade of the fence will take another 10 years or more.”
Shifeta said this will have severe negative implications as poaching and human-wildlife conflict incidences will increase, and the general risk to wildlife protection and species conservation will be heightened. He further said the current fence has deteriorated to such an extent that in some areas it does not exist. This situation has caused livestock to graze in the park and human-wildlife conflict incidents are being experienced with communities and farmers in the area. He said the risk of livestock diseases as a result of cattle grazing in the park with wild animals will increase. “This could have far-reaching economic implications on the country's beef industry and could potentially put the export of beef to European, American, Chinese and other export markets in jeopardy.”
Shifeta said ministry officials from the head office and the director of parks will visit the project every second month, if not monthly, to conduct inspections on the progress and quality of work, while he will join staff members in the construction.
A committee to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the construction has also been established and will be chaired by the ministry's executive director, Teo Nghitila. Meanwhile, the Friends of the Parks programme was also launched. The programme encourages donors, the private sector and other stakeholders to get involved and support the development and management of Namibia's national parks and other conservation areas.
The programme will support the environment ministry in developing, expanding, managing and promoting a system of sustainable national parks and conservation areas that represent biodiversity, tourism and heritage assets through innovation and best practice for the just and equitable benefit of current and future generations.
ELLANIE SMIT
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