Short Term Consultancy: Support for the Economic Valuation and Revision of the Tourism plan for the Sperrgebiet National Park

Short Term Consultancy: Support for the economic valuation and revision of the tourism plan for the Sperrgebiet National Park

The UNDP/GEF funded Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project and the Critical Ecosystem Programme Fund (CEPF) funded Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme (SKEP) are providing park planning support to the Sperrgebiet National Park in preparation for the opening up of the park to tourism related activities.

The Sperrgebiet National Park (SNP), which was proclaimed in 2008, is located in the South-western corner of Namibia, covering 22,000 sq. km. The SNP is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the West, the Orange River in the South, the Namib-Naukluft Park in the North and mainly freehold farmlands to the East. Two town lands also occur on the eastern boundary, namely Aus and Rosh Pinah, which currently fall under the jurisdiction of Local Authorities. Two other urban areas are located within the SNP, namely Luderitz, which has its own Municipality, and Oranjemund, which falls under the management of the mining conglomerate Namdeb.

The greater area of the SNP falls within the Succulent Karoo Biome, characterized mainly by winter rainfalls. The Succulent Karoo ecosystem is the most diverse desert system in the world and is one of the world?s top 25 global biodiversity hotspots. The area is known to have high plant, particularly succulent, diversity. Some 1,050 plants are known to occur in the SNP, nearly 25% of the entire flora of Namibia on less than 3% of the land area of the country. The area also boasts some 80 terrestrial and 38 marine mammal species, some 35 coastal and marine birds, almost 60 wetland birds and some 120 terrestrial bird species. Almost 100 reptile species, some 16 frog species and a great number of insects and other invertebrates.

Objective of the assignment

The objective is to assist the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) in preparing a detailed tourism plan that will include new information from new studies undertaken in the park as well as provide estimates and economic data on the tourism concessions that can assist MET in making informed decisions about tourism development and concessions in the SNP. Specific expertise includes market research, tourism potential assessment and economic valuation.

Application and Submission

Interested consultants, institutions or consortia should submit a technical and financial proposal, clearly elaborating their understanding of the tasks at hand, proposed methodology/approach, work-plan, and attach CVs for team members.

Packages to be submitted should be marked: Proposal for the economic valuation and revision of the tourism plan for the Sperrgebiet National Park.

Interested companies/individuals should download the Terms of Reference here or contact Mr. Jonas Nghishidi at 061-248345, Email: jn@nnf.org.na or Samson Mulonga at 061-284 2504, Email: smulonga@met.na

The deadline for applications is 13h00, Friday, 24th June 2011. Proposals shall be submitted to the address below.

SKEP Project Coordinator
Namibia Nature Foundation
76 - 78 Frans Indongo Street, Windhoek