Component 1: An Integrated Enviromental Policy
 
Walvis Bay - Your Oasis of Opportunities
(Vision of the Municipality of Walvis Bay)
 
"Halfway up the barren Namibian coast, where the icy Benguela current rushes up from the Antartic and the gaint golden sand dunes of the Namib desert reach down to the sea, lies the port of Walvis Bay"
 
-Berat,L. (1990) Walvis Bay:The Last Frontier. Radix: New Haven
 
The large area of 1 124 square kilometres under the Municipality of Walvis Bay’s jurisdiction is flanked by 60 kilometres of the cold, rich South Atlantic Ocean’s coastline on its western, seaward side. To the north and east, the Namib Desert’s dunes and plains surround the town. To the south, are the 12 600 hectare Walvis Bay wetlands, listed as a Ramsar Convention wetland in 1995, and the adjoining Kuiseb River Delta.
Walvis Bay is growing at a steady, manageable pace, with an estimated population of 42 000 (double the number of 20 years ago). As with most Namibian urban settlements, the residents of Walvis Bay are reliant on both renewable and non-renewable natural resources for their livelihoods. Walvis Bay is the centre of Namibia’s fishing industry, which accounts for at least 5% of Gross Domestic Product. Walvis Bay is also Namibia’s principal port, one of only two navigable natural harbours on the coastline, and the terminus of the Trans-Kalahari Highway. Tourism, Namibia’s fastest growing industry, is also a provider of employment and incomes as more and more visitors come to experience the unique attractions offered by the meeting of desert and seashore. Tourism is now being joined by the filming of commercials and features for screen and television.
The Municipality of Walvis Bay has long recognised that it has a major responsibility to manage both its natural and man-made environments. Assuring the prosperity of Walvis Bay’s people and reducing high levels of poverty would strongly depend on well-managing the environmental assets of the town and its surroundings.

In 2002, under the auspices of the Walvis Bay Local Agenda 21 (WB LA21) Project and in close partnership with key stakeholders, an Integrated Environmental Policy was developed and adopted by the Municipality of Walvis Bay in September 2002. The policy clearly states the directions the Municipality and stakeholders will move towards in the period to 2007 to fulfill their joint responsibilities to manage its natural and man-made environment for the benefit of all residents and visitors.

The Integrated Environmental Policy integrates policy, strategy and implementation plan elements. In accordance with the Namibian Constitution, the Municipality of Walvis Bay has committed to managing its very fragile environment oriented by and following national policies, legislation and multilateral agreements.

Inspired by the vision of a better environmental future, the policy serves as an adaptive flexible framework for a series of sectoral strategies and action plans relevant to Walvis Bay’s unique fragility of its environment. In the process the following ten key, priority issues were identified and highlighted for environmental management in Walvis Bay.

  • Managing Walvis Bay’s Lagoon Ramsar Wetland Site
  • Reducing marine pollution in Walvis Bay
  • Understanding and solving ground pollution issues
  • Managing off-road driving and other recreational activities
  • Eradicating litter hotspots in Walvis Bay and on the seashore
  • Minimising Water Consumption
  • Improving Walvis Bay’s Air Quality
  • Conserving threatened species and their habitats
  • Improving sanitation facilities for shack dwellers
  • Educating residents about Walvis Bay’s environment and its ecosystems

The Municipality undertook to continue to take a leading role in formulating, promoting and enforcing the environmental policy. But in real partnership, residents and their institutions will continue to play an equally active role in supporting and ensuring the implementation of the policy.
 
Click here to download the Enviromental Policy -- pdf format