Biomes and Habitats for Wildlife

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 diversity of terrestrial fauna and flora
Overall endemism 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
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 area Communal conservancies Community forests outside conservancies Concession areas State protected areas Total coverage
Lakes & dams 15.6     12.6 28.2
Oshanas & floodplains 33.4     8.6 42.0
Pans 3.1     77.8 80.9
Perennial rivers 37.2     20.8 58.0
Ephemeral rivers 34.3 1.9 1.6 11.1 48.9
Nama Karoo 14.6   1.4 5.0 21.0
Namib Desert 13.9   3.2 75.7 92.8
Succulent Karoo       90.5 90.5
Acacia Savanna 20.1 0.4 0.2 4.5 24.8
Broad-leafed Savanna 34.3 7.7   8.8 45.4
Total area of Namibia 20.2 1.7 0.8 16.8 38.2

The table displays the portions of habitats and biomes covered by each conservation category, and the total percentage of such areas protected in 2022.

This page was last updated on: 6th October 2023