Environmental impacts of prospecting and mining in Namibian national parks : implications for legislative compliance

[摘要] Namibia's environmental legislation is fragmented and outdated, and in particular mining andprospecting in parks of Namibia is poorly legislated. This problem was analysed with the SkeletonCoast Park being chosen as the study region, as it was considered to be a representative example forparks in Namibia. The Skeleton Coast Park offers both pre-mining and post-mining characteristics;therefore affording the possibility to ascertain the environmental impacts that mining andprospecting have on the environment.The aims of the study were to illustrate the gaps in legislation in regard to mining and prospectingin parks of Namibia and to provide management guidelines for mining and prospecting in theseparks. Objectives of this study included gathering baseline environmental information for theSkeleton Coast Park; creating and analysing a spatial database for the occurrence and type ofcurrent prospecting and mining activities in the Skeleton Coast Park; analysing and documentingtechniques currently practiced for prospecting and mining; and identifying shortcomings inlegislation and policy guidelines regulating these activities.The study results highlight the extraordinary sensitivity and uniqueness of the natural environmentin terms of physiography, ecological functioning and vulnerability to human interference of the lifeforms occurring here. Results confirm that mining and prospecting techniques can have detrimentalenvironmental effects given the poor management practices recorded. Also, prospecting in theSkeleton Coast Park indicates no lucrative source of diamonds. Even though currently the entirecoast line is given out to Exclusive Prospecting Licences, results do not indicate that any companyis undertaking serious active prospecting. Regarding regulation it is evident that new, moreencompassing legislation has been drafted, but that the promulgation of the legislation is hamperedby the non-finalisation of the process. Several new draft bills currently in place contradict eachother and need proper alignment.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University