Awareness & Education

Lack of awareness about the coastal environment and the value of biodiversity has been identified as one of the main bottlenecks for sustainable coastal development in Namibia. The NACOMA Project is therefore investing in awereness and education initiatives that particularly focus on the coastal environment. Such initiatives are essential for skills development and knowledge improvement. The significantly contribute to the promotion of responsilbe environmental behaviour, which will contribute to sustainable development. To date, a number of awareness and education initiatives have been implemented by the project.

These are mainly aiming at:

In actual facts, everyone can make a difference. With this notion, it is therefore necessary to create awareness among all Namibians and visitors about the value of the coast. This will lead to the improved protection and the wise use of the coastal environment and its resources.

Since September 2007, the NACOMA project has been getting assistance from a Communication and Public Relations Expert to design, compile information and produce information materials about the coastal environment and its management.  This person also supports the dissemination of information to the media (press, TV, radio and internet) for the purpose of improving the general public understanding of the importance of the coast and its resources, as well as the associated benefits. He can be contacted at:

Coastodians take care of the Namibian coast

The Government of the Republic of Namibia through its Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in collaboration with other line ministries, with support of the NACOMA project and other stakeholders introduced a coastal awareness campaign for encouraging Namibians and visitors to promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of the natural resources and development in harmony with Namibia's coast. The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Walvis Bay officially launched the Coastodian Campaign on 31 July 2008.

It was decided that it would have much more impact if the campaign was spearheaded by an easily recognizable brand, providing a visual focus and association.

The brand name, Coastodian, was selected from a number of options after a lengthy development process. It was chosen because of its simplicity, symbolical appeal and originality.

Coastodian was derived from the words custodian and coast. Custodian implies a person(s) who has the responsibility to look after something and be accountable for it, hence the name: Coastodian, and the slogan: Caring for the coast – Caring for the future.

This colourful logo spearheads a sustained awareness campaign for Namibia’s coast and will be applied widely to ensure its effectiveness and impact.

The logo depicts stylized humans, holding hands – emphasizing Namibians collective obligation towards safeguarding the coastal areas and natural assets.

The yellow and orange colours of the dunes symbolize energy and the longevity of the Namib Desert. The blue sea represents the Atlantic Ocean’s life-giving Benguela current.

The circle encompasses the harmony between mankind and nature, while the green represents biodiversity, renewability and growth.

What Namibia wishes for is that people state: “I am a Coastodian, are you?

Objectives of the COASTODIAN awareness campaign

The objectives of the awareness campaign are to:

        1. Give a visual identity to (brand) the Namibian coast or coastal zone;

        2. Promote the Namibian coast or coastal zone;

        3. Promote conservation of the coast and its natural resources, its biodiversity as well as
            sustainable development;

        4. Forster a culture, beliefs, policies and practice in accordance with the above;

        5. Embrace the future policy of how the above should be achieved. Thus the policy emanating
            from the current Coastal White Paper Process would be synonymous with the brand;

        6. Promote the brand through effective communication and marketing to represent all the above
            values, practices and beliefs;

        7. Feature the logo on all possible applications in terms of communication and marketing in
            support of the coast; and

        8. Develop programmes in support of the promotion of the brand.

The campaign is currently managed by the NACOMA project on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. In the future, the authority in charge of the coastal management will be in charge of this COASTODIAN campaign.

For more information about the different programmes and products of the COASTODIAN campaign, consult the paragraphs below.

In March 2009, NACOMA through the Coastodian campaign started an initiative that is specifically aiming to develop and implement coastal awareness and educational activities in identified coastal schools. Such an initiative is contributing to improved knowledge on the coastal value and to change attitudes towards the coastal resources. This initiative is implemented in close collaboration with teachers.

The first coastal schools that have been identified to participate in this initiative are:

      - Kamwandi Junior Secondary School, Henties Bay
      - Tamariskia Primary School, Swakopmund
      - Westside High School, Swakopmund
      - Flamingo Primary School, Walvis Bay
      - Duneside Primary School, Walvis Bay
      - Narraville Primary School, Narraville
      - Diaz Primary School, Luderitz
      - Luderitz Secondary School, Luderitz

Within the framework of this initiative, NACOMA collaborated with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) , the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) - http://www.nadeet.org), to put together information related to the Namibian coastal areas and the coastal resources, for the youth magazine known as “Bush Telegraph”,The magazine on the Namibian coast can be downloaded from the link below

Did you know there are more birds living along the Namibian coast than there are people in our country; that the average bath uses 90 litres of water, but a five-minute shower only uses 20 litres; or that your actions – both good and bad – have an effect on our coastal environment and our future? Yes? No? The more you learn about Namibia’s coastal environment, the more you’ll want to know more!

COASTODIANS is a resource book that has been designed as an aid to environmental education, with particular focus on the Namibian coast. It contains information on the usual and important nature of the Namibian coast, the coastal resources, as well as fascinating facts and a variety of activities to challenge learners at school. It documents information that will help people to understand their physical environments and to understand how people are connected to the land, the animals and to each other. The topics included in this book range from biology to conservation, from English to the arts.

So be inspired, be challenged and become a Coastodian!

You can download this resource book through the link below. To obtain hard copies, please contact NACOMA office in Swakopmund.

"The Namib Desert Coast" is a documentary film of 25 minutes about the Namibian coast that was produced for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism - Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) project by Francois Odendaal Productions (2009). The film was officially launched on 30 July 2009 in Swakopmund.

Film synopsis:
Home to animals that swim in the sand, plants that grow for thousands of years, and such environmental extremes that, at times, fish walk out of the water, Namibia’s coast is a fascinating place, rich in history and biodiversity. It is worth exploring, learning more about, and certainly worth protecting. Stretching some 1570 kms from the border with South Africa in the south to the border with Angola in the north, our coast is also home to human settlements and industries such as mining, fishing and tourism that contribute significantly to the nation’s economy. Increasing human pressures over the past years highlight the urgent need for sound coastal planning and management to ensure sustainable and optimal use of coastal areas and their resources for future generations. Now is the time for all Namibians and visitors to rally together to conserve and use wisely our unique coastal and marine environment. This film presents the beauty, diversity and resources of our coastal environment and encourages us to be COASTODIANS, caring for our coast, caring for our future.

The film can be viewed on this website on the page Film: "The Namib Desert Coast" under the section Our Coast.

DVDs of the film "Namib Desert Coast" can be obtained from NACOMA office in Swakopmund.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has made efforts to acknowledge and honour the contributions of individual people who have played significant roles in the promotion of the conservation of the natural resources and environment along the coast, in one way or another. The people with this recognition are referred to as “Honorary Coastodians”.
Through the Coastodian campaign, the NACOMA Project in collaboration with various coastal stakeholders have assisted MET to nominate the Honorary Coastodians. Every year, up to four people will be acknowledged for their work and involvement towards the protection and sustainable use of the coast and its resources.

During the Coastodian campaign official launch on 31 July 2008,Honourable Asser Kapere, Mr Rod Braby, Mr Keith Wearne (late) and Mrs Merrilyn Leippert were acknowledged as the first Honorary Coastodians.

Since there were no nominations for the second group in 2009,  eight Honorary Coastodians were announced during the Coastal Biodiversity Weekend that was celebrated between the 30th and 31st of July 2010. They are: Honourable Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwa, Honourable Dudu Murorua, Mr David Uushona, Mr Timo Mufeti, Mr Chris Nel, Dr Hu Berry, Mrs Sigi Braby and Dr Jean-Paul Roux.

Office of the Permanent Secretary

The Namibian Coast is places under total conservation

With the declaration of the Dorob National Park on 1 December 2010 the last piece of the puzzle has finally been laid into place, thus converting the total Namibian coast into the eighth largest protected area in the world and the largest park in Africa – called the Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park.

The fact that the Government of the Republic of Namibia declared this last section of the Namibian coastline as a national park during 2010, being the International Year of Biodiversity, underlines the country’s role and commitment towards global, regional and national conservation and sustainable development.

The Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park stretches along the total length of the Namibian coastline of 1 570 km, covering an area of 10 754 million hectares or 107 540 km2. It comprises four main terrestrial Management Areas, the Sperrgebiet National Park in the south, the Namib-Naukluft Park, the Skeleton Coast Park and now the Dorob National Park. At its narrowest the park extends about 25 km inland and at its widest in the Namib Naukluft Park reaches about 180 km inland.

The proclamation of this protected area represents one of Namibia’s greatest conservation achievements since its Independence in 1990, and one of the most significant developments in the history of conservation in this country.  The park will also not exist in isolation as it borders on the Richtersveld in South Africa, the Iona National Park in Angola and various communal conservancies inland.

Gazetting of Dorob National Park

According the Notice No. 266 in the Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia of 1 December 2010, the Dorob National Park was declared as a game park in terms of section 14 (2) of the Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1975 (Ordinance No. 4 of 1975).

The Ministry, through the Namibian Coast Conservation Management Project (NACOMA) had consultations with various stakeholders in the Erongo Region to come up with an appropriate name for the park.  The Topnaar Traditional Authority proposed the name Dorob National Park, which was acceptable to all stakeholders.  Dorob means dry land.  According to the oral history of the desert people in the 16th century, the area between Lüderitz and Walvis Bay and up to the Kunene River was known as Doro-IHub or Dry Land.

The central coast is one of Namibia’s most important tourist and holiday destinations. Some visitors to the coast still have a perception that the entire central area of the coast is available for off-road vehicle recreation. 

Although numerous areas were specifically zoned for off-road driving under this Ordinance, people still chose to use vehicles outside of these areas. Information brochures that provided guidance on the areas that could be utilized by off-road driving enthusiasts were continuously disseminated over the last 5 years, particularly over holidays.  However, these materials were widely ignored resulting in immense destruction to the environment.

Under section 95(l) of the Namibian Constitution, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has the obligation to maintain “ecosystems, essential ecological processes and biological diversity of Namibia and utilization of living natural resources on a sustainable basis for the benefit of all Namibians, both present and future.”In order to begin restoration of the coastal environment and its biological diversity, Cabinet decided to declare and gazette the central Namibian coast as Dorob National Park.

The Dorob National Park extends southwards from the Ugab River to where it intersects the northern boundary of the Namib Naukluft Park. Its western boundary is determined by the low water mark intersecting the Atlantic Ocean and its eastern border runs along the eastern boundary of the old National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area and the Walvis Bay Magisterial District boundary. It excludes all towns, railways, major, minor and district roads and their reserves and privately owned land.

Implications of gazetting of the Dorob National Park
The Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975 was promulgated in order to serve as a legal framework for nature conservation in Namibia, including park management. This ordinance is applicable to all parks of Namibia, including the newly gazetted Dorob National Park.  The enforcement of this Act is facilitated by a set of generic regulations, which will be implemented to ensure sound management of the Dorob National Park until the specific draft regulations for the Dorob National Park are gazetted.

Joint staff from the local authorities, NAMPOL and MFMR worked together with MET officers in a combined law enforcement crime prevention effort. The results were a much quieter season especially around Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. MET staff issued 145 fines on the Erongo coast, MFMR and NAMPOL also issued many fines. It is clear that regulations need to be finalized, a park budget approved and an office in Henties Bay may be necessary.  Similarly, the MET is looking forward to implementation of the Environmental Management Act and the Protected Area and Wildlife Management Acts. We urge our officers to be courteous and firm and give guidance and advice to the general public.

For more information and downloading reports linked to this activity, please visit Reports & Publications.