Protected areas of Namibia

The protected areas of Namibia include its national parks and reserves. With the 2010 declaration of Dorob National Park, Namibia became the first and only country to have its entire coastline protected through a national parks network.^[1] Protected areas are subdivided into game reserves and/or nature reserves, such as special protected area, wilderness areas, natural areas, and development areas. There are also recreation reserves.^[2] Facilities in the national parks are operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts.^[3] Over 19% of Namibia is protected, an area of some 130,000 square kilometres.^[4] However, the Ministry of Environment & Tourism auctions limited hunting rights within its protected areas.^[4] The Namibia Nature Foundation, an NGO, was established in 1987 to raise and administer funds for the conservation of wildlife and protected area management. Communal Wildlife Conservancies in Namibia help promote sustainable natural resource management by giving local communities rights to wildlife management and tourism.