Namibia – Namib Sand Sea

THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has decided that no exploration of minerals will occur within the Namib Sand Sea World Heritage site at Sossusvlei in the Hardap region.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Namib Sand Sea as a world heritage site in Windhoek on Friday, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said all exclusive prospecting licences which existed for the site have not been renewed, after it was inscribed a heritage site on 21 June 2013 by Unesco.

“The government is committed to meeting its obligations by ensuring that activities that are not consistent with world heritage sites shall not be allowed to take place at this important site,” he stated.

At the time of the inscription of the site, only two mining exploration licences had been issued, but had expired, and could not be renewed due to the significance of the site.

The Namib Sand Sea is situated within the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which is the largest protected area in Africa with a size of 49 768 square kilometres. It is under the environment ministry’s management.

Read more from source: No exploration at Namib Sand Sea – Shifeta