Selected grantee report

The Tsau//Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park covers 2.2 million ha of the Succulent Karoo biome in south-western Namibia. This is one of the most plant diverse regions of southern Africa. The park alone contains almost a quarter of all the plant species in Namibia. A high proportion of the plants in the park are endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome and at least 30 species occur only within the park. This places a particularly high responsibility on Namibia, and specifically on the MEFT park staff, to protect and safeguard these species and their habitat – no one else can do so. However, many of these endemic species are small succulents which are difficult to identify. It is important that the park staff in particular, but also visiting scientists, EIA practitioners, tourism operators and visitors to the park know the endemic plants of the area so as to ensure their long-term protection and welfare.

This project builds on the MEFT’s evolving Biodiversity Monitoring Framework which is increasingly using digital tools to make information available (e.g. electronic guides), to capture data, and share information. The outputs of this project are:

• A scientific publication on the endemic plants of the Tsau//Khaeb National Park in the on-line e-journal Namibian Journal of Environment;
• A full colour e-book entitled Endemic plants of the Sperrgebiet – a photographic guide with photos, descriptions and distribution maps, freely available on Namibia’s Environmental Information Service (EIS: http://the-eis.com/elibrary/search/23084
• Four illustrated posters on the endemic plants of the park, also available on the EIS at the above link.

Project sponsors: