| Iona National Park | |
|---|---|
 Baobab, Iona National Park, Angola | |
  | |
| Location |  |
| Nearest city | Lubango |
| Coordinates | 16°40′S 12°20′E / 16.67°S 12.33°E |
| Area | 15,200 km2 |
| Established | 1964 |
| Governing body | Ministeria do Ambiente, Angola |
Iona National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional do Iona) is the largest and oldest national park in Angola. It is situated in the Southwestern corner of the country, in Namibe Province. It is roughly bound by the Atlantic Ocean to the West, an escarpment to the East that marks the beginning of the interior plateau, the Curoca River to the North, and the Cunene River to the South. It is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south of the city of Namibe and covers 5,850 square miles (15,200 km2) sq. miles.[1]
The topography of Iona is characterised by shifting dunes, vast plains, and rough mountains and cliffs. Rainfall varies from about 100 mm on the coast to 300 mm or more on the eastern border.[2] The Curoca River is intermittent but has lagoons, while the Cunene is permanent and has marshy areas at its mouth.[3]
Iona was proclaimed as a reserve in 1937 and upgraded to a national park in 1964.[4] It is the oldest protected area in Angola.[5] However, as is true for most Angolan parks, the Angolan Civil War greatly disrupted the area. Poaching and the destruction of infrastructure caused considerable damage to the once rich park.
Starting around 2009, a number of government and international projects have worked on rebuilding the infrastructure of the park, which will hopefully invite tourists back. Tourism can provide tangible economic value to surrounding communities, giving them a reason to protect the park. However, a study published in 2019 reported that while the local population recognized the benefits of the park, they were concerned for their historical and current use of the land.[4] A major use is for pasturing livestock and grazing.
African Parks began co-managing the park in 2020. The five pillars of the park are "tourism, community, inspection, conservation and infrastructure".[6] In 2024, there were 135 employees.[6]
- ^ "Poaching in Iona is a Crime". Jornal de Angola, March 26, 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Iona National Park". BirdLife International. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Framework Report on Angola's Biodiversity" (PDF). Republic of Angola, Ministry of Environment, 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Villagers' Perceptions of Tourism Activities in Iona National Park: Locality as a Key Factor in Planning for Sustainability". Sustainability 2019, 11. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Iona National Park Takes a Step Forward in its Transformation". African Parks. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b Costa, Tatiana (26 January 2024). "Agostinho Neto's house in Iona National Park will be converted into a tourist attraction". Ver Angola. Retrieved 28 February 2024.