Namibia

 

Our work in Namibia aims to instate the Namibia Islands’ Marine Protected Area (NIMPA) as a fully functioning marine reserve.   Working with project partners the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) we have established a strong working relationship with the Ministry of Fisheries, who oversees the NIMPA and have funded baseline marine life monitoring in the area, especially for the important seabirds, cetaceans and marine mammals We have held stakeholder workshops in the coastal town of Lüderitz. With a consortium of partners we have successfully progressed to the final stages a funding proposal entitled “Strengthening management and allowing the designation of two new MPAs while improving livelihood opportunities of coastal communities”. Funding from L2M will act as match funding for this project which will support the government to develop and implement a new management framework for the MPA, including a new management plan, zoning and regulations and financing plan. Supported by targeted capacity development and an enhanced evidence base, the updated management system will effectively guide decision-making, set thresholds for concerns, control the key threats to marine biodiversity and ecological processes, and better accommodate sustainable resource use by communities.