Skeleton Coast National Park Management Plan 2013

National parks are a vital tool for conserving Namibia’s essential biodiversity. By managing parks, their irreplaceable assets and unlimited potential will be conserved for future generations. In addition, every year Namibia’s National Parks draw large numbers of tourists, generating employment and stimulating development nationwide. National Parks also provide unique opportunities to benefit local communities through rural development while providing research, education and recreation opportunities. One of the protected areas in Namibia is the Skeleton Coast National Park. The name Skeleton Coast suggests a dramatic history and difficult conditions for human survival. These qualities make the park an attractive destination for eco-tourists. Similarly, its fine angling reputation attracts large numbers of fishermen from southern Africa and elsewhere. Altogether it is an area of international significance, set within a larger transboundary landscape that covers the length of the Namib Desert. This management plan sets out the objectives and guidelines for the management and development of the Skeleton Coast National Park. As such, it represents the policies and intentions of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) on how the park should be managed.

Park neighbours, traditional authorities, line Ministries, Regional Councils, conservancies, private sector, tourists, contractors, organizations, institutions, parastatals, researchers, professional hunters, and any entity or individuals dealing with the park, in any way, must ensure that actions and decisions relating to this park are in accordance with the park management plan. In addition, specific rules and regulations in accordance with the applicable legislation will apply. Shorter-term operational plans or work plans will be developed in accordance with the activities provided in the park management plan. These will identify specific or annual prioritized actions, which need to be performed to address the priorities specified in the park management plan. The park management plan must be viewed as a valuable and central document by all management and policy level staff involved with a specific park. They should be familiar with its contents, and must make use of it to familiarize new staff with the aims, objectives, management principles and strategies for the park. It is every staff member’s (involved with Skeleton Coast National Park) responsibility to ensure that the park management plan is implemented accordingly.

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• Skeleton Coast National Park Management Plan