Research
A range of research activities are ongoing within the Landscape. These include projects monitoring individual species or groups such as carnivores (Kwando Carnivore Project), elephants, wattled cranes and crocodiles, projects concerned with the utilisation of resources such as fish and forest products, as well as ongoing conservancy-based monitoring.
Game monitoring
Regular game monitoring assesses population sizes and distributions of key species of game. As well as monthly monitoring by community game guards, a structured game count is carried out annually in the dry season (September) to assess population sizes, distributions and status. This includes the national parks and conservancies.
The Event Book
The Event Book is a highly successful conservancy management tool initiated in the year 2000. It has been continuously refined and is being used by all of the conservancies in Mudumu Landcape.
The simple but rigorous tool promotes conservancy involvement in the design, planning and implementation of natural resource monitoring. Each conservancy decides which resources it needs to monitor, bearing in mind issues on which conservancies are obliged to report to the MET. The resources or themes identified may include human wildlife conflict, poaching, rainfall, rangeland condition, predators and fire. The suite of resources being monitored is increasing and includes plants, fish, honey and even livestock. For each topic there is a complete system that begins with systematic data collection, goes through monthly reporting and includes long-term reporting. Every year, an annual audit of the system is conducted where all data is collated into a conservancy’s annual natural resource report, which the conservancy uses as an important management tool. The report is also sent to the MET and provided to NACSO to update its databases, and is used in national data and trend analysis. The Event Book concept has been adapted to monitor conservancy enterprises and other economic activities. Due to its almost universal application, the system has been ‘exported’ to state and private sector parks in Namibia, as well as other countries in Africa and Asia.
You can find information on many of these research activities below.
Relevant literature
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A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Floods and Flood Impact in Eastern Caprivi, Namibia
Mudabeti, A.M. 2011. A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Floods and Flood Impact in Eastern Caprivi, Namibia. Degree of Master of Science (Geographical Information SCience and Systems) - Msc (GISc), Centre for Geoinformatics, Salzburg University
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Aerial Wildlife Census of the Caprivi River Systems - a survey of water bodies and floodplains 11 - 20 August 2004
Stander, P. 2004. Aerial Wildlife Census of the Caprivi River Systems - a survey of water bodies and floodplains 11 - 20 August 2004
An aerial wildlife census of the Caprivi River Systems in Namibia was conducted between 11 and 20 August 2004. A total count of water bodies and floodplains of the Kavango, Kwandu, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi was done to asses the numbers of hippopotamuses, floodplain ungulates, crocodiles, and some large birds. Counting areas were divided into 15km2 blocks and, with the use of GPS and mobile GIS technology, each block was covered intensively.» Download -
Analysis of Historic Fisheries Research Data for the Caprivi Region, April 2009
Hay, C.J. and van der Waal, B.C.W. 2009. Analysis of Historic Fisheries Research Data for the Caprivi Region, April 2009. Integrated Management of Zambezi/Chobe River System - Tansboundary Fishery Resource, Namibia/Zambi/Botswana. Technical Report no. MFMR/NNF/WWF/Phase I/2
This is a summary report taken from the reference document that was prepared for the Namibia Nature Foundation. The study was commissioned to analyze all available data collected since 1997. The objectives of the report are spelled out in this document. This summary document highlights the important findings.» Download -
Assessment of Non-Wood forest products in eastern Caprivi. Community Forest in North-Eastern Namibia
Assessment of Non-Wood forest products in eastern Caprivi. Community Forest in North-Eastern Namibia. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Directorate of Forestry
Assessment of Non-Wood forest products in eastern Caprivi» Download -
Caprivi and Bwabwata Game Count poster 2011
Caprivi Game Count poster 2011
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi; dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2010, population estimates and trends» Download -
Caprivi and Bwabwata Game Count poster 2012
Caprivi and Bwabwata Game Count poster 2012
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi; dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2011, population estimates and trends» Download -
Caprivi and Bwabwata Game Count poster 2013
Caprivi and Bwabwata Game Count poster 2013
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi; dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2012, population estimates and trends» Download -
Caprivi crocodile research project
Aust, P. 2007. Caprivi crocodile research project
This report contains information on aspects of the ecology, conservation and management of crocodiles in North Eastern Namibia. It is intended to give an overview of the research work carried out by the Caprivi Crocodile Research Project over the last two years (2006/2007).» Download -
Caprivi Elephant Monitoring Project. Final Report
Rodwell, T.C. 1995. Caprivi Elephant Monitoring Project. Final Report (October 1992 to October 1995)
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Caprivi Game Count poster 2011: conservancies only
Caprivi Game Count poster 2011: conservancies only
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi (conservancies only); dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2010, population estimates and trends» Download -
Caprivi Game Count poster 2011: protected areas only
Caprivi Game Count poster 2011: protected areas only
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi (protected areas only); dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2010, population estimates and trends» Download -
Caprivi State Forest - The Forest Resource
Caprivi State Forest - The Forest Resource (From Forest Inventory). Namibia-Finland Forestry Programme
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Economic Analysis of Land Use Policies for Livestock, Wildlife and Disease Management in Caprivi, Namibia, with Potential Wider Implications for Regional Transfrontier Conservation Areas
Barnes, J.I. 2013. Economic Analysis of Land Use Policies for Livestock, Wildlife and Disease Management in Caprivi, Namibia, with Potential Wider Implications for Regional Transfrontier Conservation Areas. Technical Report to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s AHEAD Program and the World Wildlife Fund
Standard cost-benefit analysis was applied to several future policy options for land use and animal disease management in Caprivi, Namibia. Emphasis was placed on the livestock-wildlife interface and Caprivi's role as central to the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) transfrontier conservation area (TFCA). Empirically-based enterprise models measuring private and economic values for livestock and wildlife sectors in Caprivi were used to measure returns to investment for policy options regarding animal disease management and land use allocation. Options included commodity-based trade (CBT) and veterinary control fencing approaches to animal disease management. CBT is a production and marketing approach, which assures product safety regardless of the disease status of the area of origin and therefore permits adaptation of conventional (geographically-based) animal disease control measures. The basic measure of economic efficiency was incremental change in net national income at opportunity cost. Local livelihood contributions were also measured.» Download -
Elephant Distribution and Abundance in the Caprivi Strip: Results of an Aerial Survey in 2003
Griffin, C.R. and Chase, M.J. 2004. Elephant Distribution and Abundance in the Caprivi Strip: Results of an Aerial Survey in 2003. Conservation International. Final Report, January 23, 2004. Submitted to Ministry of Environment and Tourism
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Elephant Distribution and Abundance in the Lower Kwando River Basin and West Caprivi
Chase, M.J. and Griffin, C.R. 2006. Elephant Distribution and Abundance in the Lower Kwando River Basin and West Caprivi
During October and November 2005, we conducted aerial surveys over the Lower Kwando River Basin (LKRB) and the West Caprivi to determine elephant distribution and abundance. This region offers the best potential for restoring elephant and other wildlife populations into the conservation areas of southeast Angola and southwest Zambia.» Download -
Fish populations, gill net catches and gill net selectivity in the Kwando River, Namibia
Næsje, T.F., Hay, C.J., Nickanor, N., Koekemoer, J.H., Strand, R., and Thorstad, E.B. 2004. Fish populations, gill net catches and gill net selectivity in the Kwando River, Namibia. - NINA Project Report 27. 64pp.
The objective of this report is to provide baseline information about the fish resources in the Namibian part of the Kwando River to form the biological foundation for recommendations for a sustainable management of the fish resources. Based on fish survey data from the period 1997-1999, the fish resources are described through studies of species diversity, relative importance of the different species, life history parameters, catch per unit effort and gill net selectivity.» Download -
Forest inventory report of Caprivi Region
Chakanga, M., Korhonen, K. and Selänniemi, T. 1998. Forest inventory report of Caprivi Region. Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Directorate of Forestry, Namibia-Finland Forestry Programme
» Download -
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi 2010
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi 2010
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi; dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2009, population estimates and trends.» Download -
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi 2010: conservancies only
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi 2010: conservancies only
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi (conservancies only); dry season, live sightings. showing Numbers seen by conservation area, habitat, compared to 2009, population estimates and trends.» Download -
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi: map of live sightings
Game counts in Bwabwata and Caprivi: map of live sightings
Maps showing live sightings of elephant, giraffe, kudu, roan, sable, buffalo, impala, reedbuck, tsessebe and zebra in the 2010 Caprivi game count» Download -
Notes on a spatial assessment of the risk of flooding in eastern Caprivi
Nathanael, B. and Mendelsohn, J. 2013. Notes on a spatial assessment of the risk of flooding in eastern Caprivi. RAISON (Research and Information Services of Namibia)
RAISON was commissioned by WWF (Namibia) to produce a mapped assessment of the vulnerability of eastern Caprivi to flooding with the objective that such an assessment will improve planning. For example, much of flood damage could have been avoided and need for emergency relief measures improved if information on the risk of flooding had been available to plan the location of infrastructure and settlements. This information is particularly important as predictions are that climate change will affect flooding in this region.» Download -
Results of a Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus survey in the river systems of north-east Namibia during August 2004
Brown, C.J., Stander, P., Meyer-Rust, R. and Mayes, S. 2004. Results of a Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus survey in the river systems of north-east Namibia during August 2004
This study has provided baseline data on crocodile numbers from aerial and spotlight counts. These data can be used with the results of future counts to determine population trends. The census has also provided information on their distribution of crocodiles in the Kavango and Caprivi regions. And third, it has resulted in the first population estimate for crocodiles in the north-east wetlands of Namibia.» Download -
Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north-east Namibia: results from an aerial survey during August 2004
Brown, C.J., Stander, P., Mayes, S., Conradie, L., Haredoeb, P., Singwangwa, M. and Cilliers, W. 2004. Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north-east Namibia: results from an aerial survey during August 2004
Areas surveyed: The Okavango River in Namibia, from just northwest the bridge on the Trans-Caprivi highway south to the Botswana border; the entire length of the Kwandu-Linyanti-Lake Liambezi-Chobe system, including the Mamili National Park; and the Zambezi river for its entire length on Namibia’s border, including parts of the adjacent East Caprivi floodplains.» Download -
Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north-east Namibia: results from an aerial survey during September 2007
Brown, C. Chase, M., Nkala, T., Landen, K. and Aust, P. 2007. Status of Wattled Cranes on the floodplains of north-east Namibia: results from an aerial survey during September 2007
The Okavango River in Namibia, from the Angolan border just northwest of the bridge on the Trans-Caprivi highway south to the Botswana border; the entire length of the Kwandu-Linyanti-Lake Liambezi-Chobe system, including the whole Mamili National Park; and the Zambezi River for its entire length on Namibia’s border, including parts of the adjacent East Caprivi floodplains, were survey from the air in September 2007.» Download -
Wild food: Use of natural resources for food in eastern Caprivi
Mulonga, S. 2003. Wild food: Use of natural resources for food in eastern Caprivi. Research Discussion Paper No 62, Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
The research was conducted in Salambala and Mayuni Conservancy and at Linyanti, which is a non-conservancy area. The main objective of the study was to look at the use of wild food resources by people as a livelihood activity in rural areas in Caprivi and the factors influencing the use of these resources.» Download -
Wildlife census of Namibia's North East Rivers - 2009
Wildlife census of Namibia's North East Rivers - 2009
The third aerial wildlife census of the Caprivi and Kavango river systems in Namibia took place during September 2009. These surveys cover the Kavango, Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi Rivers and their associated wetlands and floodplains. The area (~18,000 km2) is surrounded by Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, lying between the Okavango River in the west, and the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers in the east. The Okavango, Kwando, Linyanti and Zambezi rivers provide perennial water.» Download -
Wildlife resources in the Caprivi, Namibia. The Results of an Aerial Census in 1994 and Comparisons with Past Surveys
Rodwell, T.C., Tagg. J. and Grobler. M. 1995. Wildlife resources in the Caprivi, Namibia. The Results of an Aerial Census in 1994 and Comparisons with Past Surveys. Research Discussion Paper No 9, Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
Protected and proclaimed areas in the Caprivi, Namibia, hold most of the economically valuable wildlife species in that region. This wildlife is presently being viewed as a potential resource base to support the many community-based conservation and development programmes in the Caprivi.» Download -
Winter counts of wetland and floodplain birds in the Kwando River and floodplain system, Caprivi
Brown, C.J and Meyer-Rust, R. 2004. Winter counts of wetland and floodplain birds in the Kwando River and floodplain system, Caprivi
Human and, increasingly, elephant pressure on Namibia’s wetlands and riparian belts are a major cause of conservation concern. Many wetland birds are listed in Namibia’s Red Data Book (Simmons & Brown in prep) because of population declines caused by the degradation and destruction of wetland habitats, and because of high levels of disturbance. Good information on the status of major wetlands and their avifauna is important for their conservation management. Birds provide one of the best indicators of wetland health. That is why wetland bird counts are such an important part of Namibia’s environmental monitoring system.» Download
