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Etosha National Park, Namibia Top Impact Other Impacts
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The ecosystem of Namibia's Etosha National Park harbors one of the largest populations of the critically endangered black rhinoceros. Rhinos are protected from poaching in Etosha, but global warming is adding to stress on biodiversity in Africa, and could put game-spotting tourism in Namibia at risk.1 |
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Key Facts Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, one of Africa's major wildlife sanctuaries,2 is home to the critically endangered black rhinoceros.5,6 Climate change threatens biodiversity in the park and elsewhere in Africa,11 and a warmer, drier climate in Namibia could put tourism at risk.10
Details Namibia's Etosha National Park, designated as a game reserve in 1907, is one of Africa's major wildlife sanctuaries.2 It centers around a huge, parched depression of silver-white minerals—the Great White Place or Place of Dry Water for which the park is named.3 This ancient, evaporated lake deposit of salt minerals fills with water only after heavy rains.4 The park harbors more than 100 types of mammals, including rare and endangered species such as the black rhinoceros, black-faced impala, tssesebe, and gemsbok.2 Etosha is also home to more than 300 species of birds and more than 100 species of reptiles.4 The black rhino, brought to the brink of extinction by poaching, has been listed as critically endangered since 2001.5 Namibia has one of the largest remaining populations of black rhinos, and roughly three-quarters of the national rhino population can be found in Etosha—where successful conservation policies have virtually eliminated poaching.6 The opportunity to spot game such as rhino, along with other nature-based tourism, are the main reasons most people cite for visiting Namibia7—and tourism is growing.8 Some 600,000 people visited the country each year in the mid-2000s.8 National parks contribute some N$1 billion to N$2 billion (U.S. $130 to $265 million) annually to the economy.8 However, temperatures in Namibia have been rising at three times the global average rate for the twentieth century.9 A warmer, drier climate could threaten the country's valuable tourism sector.10 What the Future Holds Scientists expect Namibia's climate to continue to become hotter and drier, with a projected temperature increase of 3.6-10.8° F (2-6° C) by the end of this century.9 Lower and more variable rainfall is projected. And even if rainfall decreases only slightly from today's levels, evaporation typically increases as temperatures rise, so Namibia is likely to become even drier.9 As water becomes scarcer, the range and number of wildlife supported by Etosha and other national parks could decline.9 Climate change is one of several stresses putting biodiversity in Africa at risk.11 For example, large herds of migratory mammals such as rhinos and elephants are a distinguishing ecosystem characteristic of the continent.11 The combined pressures of global warming and changes in land use may prevent these animals from migrating between critical dry-season and wet-season grazing areas.11 The future impacts of climate change depend largely on the choices we make today: whether to curb, maintain, or increase heat-trapping emissions. According to one recent study, if our heat-trapping emissions continue to rise at current rates,12 and wildlife are confined within game reserves, around 15 percent of mammalian species in Africa are likely to be critically endangered or locally extinct by mid-century, and roughly 40 percent by late this century.13 If the animals are free to migrate, about 20 percent risk being critically endangered or locally extinct by late in the century.13 In southern Africa, scientists expect a migration of species toward cooler and moister areas.13 If we do nothing to reduce our emissions,12 Etosha faces a net loss of around eight species of mammals by 2050.13 Unless we take meaningful action today, climate change could render Etosha and other national parks in dry or desert regions unable to fulfill their mandate: to protect mammalian biodiversity.13 Endnotes
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Global Warming Effects Around the World
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