Dunes and dune movement in the Walvis Bay area of Namibia, and implications for future land-use planning and development
Dunes are an integral part of the Walvis Bay environment. Their dynamics significantly influence the functioning of the coastal system and have major implications for both the ecological and socio-economic environments. In light of residential, commercial and industrial requirements for the Walvis Bay area, dune encroachment needs to be seriously considered in the future planning of land-use and resource utilisation. The overall objective of this report, therefore, is to provide a better understanding of the dominant role dunes and sand drift play in the study area and in so doing promote the more judicious future planning and management of the region. In order to achieve this aim, several specific objectives were addressed, these being: to identify and clarify all dune types occurring in the study area, and discuss the geomorphological and ecological characteristics of each; to provide an analysis of the long-term stability of dunes in the Walvis Bay area by means of aerial photograph interpretation; to highlight all factors that contribute to dune encroachment and to assess the ramifications of this movement upon the ecological and socio-economic environments; * to emphasise elements that need to be considered with any future planning of land-use and development; * to review dune management practices in the Walvis Bay area and provide recommendations for the more effective management of the system in the future.
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Department of Environmental and Geographical Science