Palmwag’s Disturbing Image

SHARING concerns on the problem of vehicle track pollution in the Palmwag area and following my visit to the area in Dec 2006 I must report some disturbing facts.

Comparing official aerial photography (1984) of the area with the latest Quickbird satellite imagery it confirms the problem of vehicle track pollution in the larger Palmwag area. Most of the damage happened in the past 12 years.Take note that this area is utilised strictly/only by the Palmwag Concession Operator(s), because tourists are not allowed in the larger Palmwag area.I travelled from the Hoanib (in the north) all the way down to Palmwag lodge (in the south) via Hunkab and Crowther’s fountains.I was disturbed to witness the extent of the problem of vehicle track pollution.For the record, on entering the area I’ve explained to the man at Palmwag paypoints (Hoanib and at the Lodge) exactly my route plan and the purpose of my mission.I’ve paid the normal entrance fees.Excluding the tourist area immediately north of Palmwag, in summary my findings for the larger Palmwag area as follows:- 1.Vehicle track pollution.Vehicle track pollution in the larger Palmwag area is far worse than suggested by satellite imagery.The southern Palmwag area is a maze of unnecessary roads and vehicle tracks.There is clearly no road policy in place and lesser so a road maintenance policy.If the road goes bad these guys simply drive new tracks.At some places in the south it resembles an off-road 4×4 playground.There is hardly an outcrop or hill with a view which is not polluted with indiscriminate vehicle tracks.The roads to some of the sightings particularly at the rocky terrain at S19.63484 E13.70199, is destructive and unnecessary and it will be very difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate the damage.In most countries there is strict legislation controlling the construction of roads and tracks.In fact, a farmer in the RSA to make a new road on his own farm has to comply with a host of regulations including an expensive environmental impact study.What is the status on Namibian legislation in this regard ?.What I found particularly disturbing in the larger Palmwag area is the off road driving right over welwitschia plants.I found three such cases.http://tracks4africa.com/misc/img_0091.jpg (94kb) I’ve taken precise GPS coordinates of these sites with matching time stamp of GPS data logger and the electronic time stamp of the photos which should qualify as undisputed evidence.I just hope decision makers in the Palmwag ranks are not so stupid to order the removal of these welwitchia plants.It will just exacerbate the problem.My question also…Is there not somebody in the ranks of Namibian Wildlife Authorities who are supposed to inspect/report on things at Palmwag? Or can Concession Operator(s) in Namibia do as they see fit ?.In summary… There is no justification for the destruction of this pristine wildlife area and I seriously question the conservation policies of Palmwag Operator(s) who are solely responsible and accountable for this damage to the environment.Conservation begins and ends with the soil and the plant (NOT the animal and certainly NOT the tourist), the self taught Palmwag crowd clearly don’t understand this principle.2.Comfort zone of the animals in the larger Palmwag area.You can drive past animals in the Hoanib and the Hoaruseb at distances of 100m and sometimes closer.This is consistent with research in Etosha, Chobe, Kruger and the Serengeti where movement of vehicles on established roads have no affect on wildlife whatsoever.Cheetahs in the Serengeti have the habit of jumping on the bonnets of cars to use as convenient vantage points.It is not the case in the larger Palmwag area.Here the comfort zones of animals are 500m to 1,000m.I saw two rhino..Could not take a photograph because they start running away at distances 1.5 kilometer and more.I’m told that hunting was stopped in the Palmwag area years ago.If this is true why then do animals behave in this way? 3.The tread of Rhino pouching.When you speak to Palmwag field staff (some working there for 10 years and longer) they cannot even remember the last event of rhino poaching.Their working day consist of tracking (or relentlessly harassing) the rhinos and when found this is radio-ed to the Lodge where guests are taken to the sighting with specialized 4×4 vehicles.I think the whole Palmwag concession thing sucks.I think it is high time the commercial interest at Palmwag should go find another exclusive place to entertain their clientele of super rich from Europe and elsewhere.Why do I think the Namibian Wildlife Authorities can make a much better job of protecting this area…and why not making the Palmwag area part of the Skeleton Coast National Park and get it over with.Wouter Brand Via e-mailMost of the damage happened in the past 12 years.Take note that this area is utilised strictly/only by the Palmwag Concession Operator(s), because tourists are not allowed in the larger Palmwag area.I travelled from the Hoanib (in the north) all the way down to Palmwag lodge (in the south) via Hunkab and Crowther’s fountains.I was disturbed to witness the extent of the problem of vehicle track pollution.For the record, on entering the area I’ve explained to the man at Palmwag paypoints (Hoanib and at the Lodge) exactly my route plan and the purpose of my mission.I’ve paid the normal entrance fees.Excluding the tourist area immediately north of Palmwag, in summary my findings for the larger Palmwag area as follows:- 1.Vehicle track pollution.Vehicle track pollution in the larger Palmwag area is far worse than suggested by satellite imagery.The southern Palmwag area is a maze of unnecessary roads and vehicle tracks.There is clearly no road policy in place and lesser so a road maintenance policy.If the road goes bad these guys simply drive new tracks.At some places in the south it resembles an off-road 4×4 playground.There is hardly an outcrop or hill with a view which is not polluted with indiscriminate vehicle tracks.The roads to some of the sightings particularly at the rocky terrain at S19.63484 E13.70199, is destructive and unnecessary and it will be very difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate the damage.In most countries there is strict legislation controlling the construction of roads and tracks.In fact, a farmer in the RSA to make a new road on his own farm has to comply with a host of regulations including an expensive environmental impact study.What is the status on Namibian legislation in this regard ?.What I found particularly disturbing in the larger Palmwag area is the off road driving right over welwitschia plants.I found three such cases.http://tracks4africa.com/misc/img_0091.jpg (94kb) I’ve taken precise GPS coordinates of these sites with matching time stamp of GPS data logger and the electronic time stamp of the photos which should qualify as undisputed evidence.I just hope decision makers in the Palmwag ranks are not so stupid to order the removal of these welwitchia plants.It will just exacerbate the problem.My question also…Is there not somebody in the ranks of Namibian Wildlife Authorities who are supposed to inspect/report on things at Palmwag? Or can Concession Operator(s) in Namibia do as they see fit ?.In summary… There is no justification for the destruction of this pristine wildlife area and I seriously question the conservation policies of Palmwag Operator(s) who are solely responsible and accountable for this damage to the environment.Conservation begins and ends with the soil and the plant (NOT the animal and certainly NOT the tourist), the self taught Palmwag crowd clearly don’t understand this principle.2.Comfort zone of the animals in the larger Palmwag area.You can drive past animals in the Hoanib and the Hoaruseb at distances of 100m and sometimes closer.This is consistent with research in Etosha, Chobe, Kruger and the Serengeti where movement of vehicles on established roads have no affect on wildlife whatsoever.Cheetahs in the Serengeti have the habit of jumping on the bonnets of cars to use as convenient vantage points.It is not the case in the larger Palmwag area.Here the comfort zones of animals are 500m to 1,000m.I saw two rhino..Could not take a photograph because they start running away at distances 1.5 kilometer and more.I’m told that hunting was stopped in the Palmwag area years ago.If this is true why then do animals behave in this way? 3.The tread of Rhino pouching.When you speak to Palmwag field staff (some working there for 10 years and longer) they cannot even remember the last event of rhino poaching.Their working day consist of tracking (or relentlessly harassing) the rhinos and when found this is radio-ed to the Lodge where guests are taken to the sighting with specialized 4×4 vehicles.I think the whole Palmwag concession thing sucks.I think it is high time the commercial interest at Palmwag should go find another exclusive place to entertain their clientele of super rich from Europe and elsewhere.Why do I think the Namibian Wildlife Authorities can make a much better job of protecting this area…and why not making the Palmwag area part of the Skeleton Coast National Park and get it over with.Wouter Brand Via e-mail