The Sperrgebiet: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness, by John Pallett et al.
The Sperrgebiet: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness, by John Pallett et al. Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) and NAMDEB Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd. Windhoek, Namibia 1995. ISBN 9991670939 / ISBN 99916-709-3-9 / ISBN 9789991670935
In the foreword to The Sperrgebiet: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness, by John Pallett et al., The Honourable R.K. Kabajani, Namibias Minister of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, felt 'honoured to be a part of this magnificent and important piece of work, more especially as it touches upon our sensitive and precarious environment.'
Gabi Schneider Hans Günther "Gino" Noli George Branch Margo Branch Antje Burke John Mendelsohn Mary Seely Eugène Marais
Twenty-two per cent of Namibia's total surface area is classified as arid and consequently not suitable for agriculture or similar human activities. Nevertheless, these arid areas are becoming more important in Namibia as their touristic value is slowly recognised and developed. One of Namibia's most scenic, diverse, undisturbed arid areas, with the greatest tourist potential, is the Sperrgebiet. The environmental status of most of the Sperrgebiet has enjoyed an exceptional level of protection through the security provisions of the Halbscheid Agreement and the requirements of the Diamond Acts which have been enforced for the last eighty years. With increasing pressure on land use in Namibia this area may no longer enjoy its well protected status. The question is, how does Namibia continue to reap the benefits of this largely undisturbed tract today while not forfeiting its natural resource potential for future generations? Various interests are independently making plans to use this area in different ways. Irrigation from the Orange River is thought to enhance the agricultural potential of at least a small portion of the area - but what about the saline soils? By the uninformed, diamonds are thought to lie scattered over the area - for why else was it called Diamond Area I! The people with this idea do not realise that access was denied to this large area only to serve as a buffer zone for the rich coastal diamond mining areas. Private and state tourism interests see the tremendous potential for the area - but only if it is left in its current, largely undisturbed condition. To use this land most effectively, integrated land use planning must take place - and take place soon. Yet limited information makes the process of land use planning in the Sperrgebiet very difficult. This 'environmental profile' represents a first attempt at an integrated overview of the Sperrgebiet environment. By highlighting the sensitivity and unique aspects - the diverse and spectacular winter rainfall vegetation, the vast expanses of plains dotted with hills, the inselbergs, the mineral riches and even a meteorite crater - The Sperrgebiet: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness, by John Pallett et al., can serve as a basis for land use planning and policy making for the Sperrgebiet.
Why the forbidden territory?
The Sperrgebiet, also known as Diamond Area 1, is famous for its wealth of gem-quality diamonds. It is also known for its tight security and inaccessibility, as a direct result of these rich diamond deposits. The name Sperrgebiet, meaning 'forbidden territory', dates from 1908 when diamonds were first discovered near Luderitz. A German company was granted sole prospecting and mining rights in the area and nobody was allowed access for any business other than mining diamonds, which was strictly controlled. Mining was confined to within a few kilometres of the coast, but the 100 km wide desert area was declared out of bounds to prevent unauthorised people from reaching the diamond fields. Changes in the mining companies and their licences have taken place in the intervening years, but the security arrangement remains steadfast under the Diamond Branch of the Namibian Police. [...]
This is an excerpt from The Sperrgebiet: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness, by John Pallett et al.
Title: The Sperrgebiet
Subtitle: Namibia's Least Known Wilderness
Editor: John Pallet
Publisher: Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) and NAMDEB Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd.
Windhoek, Namibia 1995
ISBN 9991670939 / ISBN 99916-709-3-9
ISBN 9789991670935
Original softcover, 21 x 30 cm, 84 pages, throughout colour photos
Pallet, John und Seely, Mary und Ford, John und Pickford, Martin und Williamson, Graham und Jacobson, Kathy und Williams, Tony und Griffin, Mike und Ryan, Peter und FitzPatrick, Percy und Marais, Eugene und Griffin, Eryn und McLachlan, Anton und de Ruyck, An und Bustamante, Rodrigo und Branch, George und Velasquez, Claudio und Branch, Margo und Kinahan, John und Kinahan, Jill und Schneider, Ilme und Claudio, Margo und Lain, Mike und Botelle, Andy und Fuller, Ben und Tapscott, Ben und Daneel, Joanne und Mendelsohn, John und Noli, Gino und Schneider, Gabi und Burke, Antje im Namibiana-Buchangebot
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