SPRINGBOKWASSER – The Namibian government, in an effort to uplift the living conditions of those safeguarding Namibia’s wildlife and tourist attraction sites, has injected over N$132 million to upgrade accommodation establishments and management stations at
Möwe Bay, Ugabmund, Springbokwasser and Cape Cross Nature Reserve in the Skeleton Coast National Park.
The state-of-the-art facilities, which consist of housing accommodation, management systems and additional park equipment, are co-financed by the German Government through the KfW Development Bank.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, during the inauguration on Thursday, indicated that this is the biggest and most significant development for the Skeleton Coast National Park to date.
“The inauguration of these park management stations is the latest outcome of the excellent cooperation between the Republic of Namibia and the Federal Republic of Germany. This is also a clear testimony that we are working hard to establish our parks as viable tourist destinations that will benefit the people who live alongside them,” Shifeta said.
He added that the new infrastructure will improve the management of parks and service delivery – and, as a result, tourists visiting the parks will enjoy Namibia’s best-kept secrets.
“We continue to invest in new infrastructure development for national parks. Additional infrastructure developments are currently underway at the Gobabeb Research Station and Sesriem Management Station in the Namib Naukluft Park in the Erongo region,” Shifeta said.
Meanwhile, the German ambassador to Namibia, Herbert Beck, said Germany being a responsible global citizen recognises its duty to support its partners in conservation
efforts.
“During the last UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), Germany reiterated its strong support of an ambitious global biodiversity framework and believed Namibia is leading by example due to its abundance in wildlife resources, flora and fauna, as well as breath-taking landscapes,” he said.
According to him, wildlife and parks also play a vital role when it comes to generating income for the country and reducing poverty through employment creation and supporting economic empowerment.
“Nonetheless, we are convinced that the Namibian government will continue prioritising the sector protecting the natural heritage of global importance and source of income for so many Namibian families, Beck said.
Photo: Eveline de Klerk