Community Conservation Namibia

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Biodiversity and endemism

Biodiversity is a central objective of community conservation. Namibia’s most notable biodiversity ‘hot spots’ are in the north-east of Namibia. By contrast, concentrations of endemic species are greatest in the dry central and western parts of the country.

Overall diversity of terrestrial fauna and flora
Overall endemism of terrestrial fauna and flora

Contributions to the protection of biodiversity and endemism

Biomes and habitats are protected by community conservation. Although riverine habitats are small in the context of the entire country, their importance is magnified because they cross arid terrain and provide vital refugia for wildlife. Conservancies in the arid north-west of Namibia provide critical protection of habitats, which are less well protected in the moister eastern regions of Kavango and Zambezi due to roads and associated settlements, which have developed along river courses.

Communal conservancies, community forests, state protected areas, tourism concessions and freehold conservancies in relation to Namibia’s main vegetation types and major biomes
Habitat, biome or areaCommunal conservanciesCommunity forests outside conservanciesConcession areasState protected areasTotal coverage
Lakes & dams15.612.628.2
Oshanas & floodplains33.48.642
Pans3.177.880.9
Perennial rivers37.220.858
Ephemeral rivers34.31.91.611.148.9
Nama Karoo14.61.4521
Namib Desert13.93.275.792.8
Succulent Karoo90.590.5
Acacia Savanna20.10.40.24.524.8
Broad-leafed Savanna34.37.78.845.4
Total area of Namibia20.21.70.816.838.2