Socio-economic context

Population

The total resident population of the landscape is about 300 people including farm owners and employees and their families. However the population increases during school holidays when many children return to the farms.

Whilst the population within the landscape itself is relatively stable, the increasing expansion of the informal settlements to the west of Windhoek is having significant environmental and security implications for parts of the landscape, particularly through criminal activities such as stock theft, poaching and uncontrolled wood collecting.

Resource access

Daan Viljoen Game Park is the only state protected area within the landscape and access to the park is subject to a fee and permit obtained at the reception. Local, regional and international visitors can access park resources with no direct use rights. Tourist resource uses are non-consumptive, for example game viewing, accommodation and bird watching.

Entry to the private farms is generally restricted to those who have prior permission of the landowner, such as through a booking for accommodation or as a day visitor. Access to resources on private farms is controlled and is only possible with the permission of the owner/estate manager or whoever is in charge of that area. Some of the farms do not allow unguided self driving, as this poses a problem of potential disturbance of wildlife. There is very limited or no subsistence farming.