/Ai-/Ais/ Richtersveld
Transfrontier park
/Ai-/Ais/ Richtersveld
The /Ai-/Ais/ Richtersveld Transfrontier Park is a 6,000 km2 cross-border protected area shared by Namibia and South Africa. It combines the /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Game Park in Namibia with the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.
The area is renowned for its dramatic desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and unique biodiversity, including rare plant species like the halfmens and the quiver tree. It is also culturally significant, home to the Nama people, and offers opportunities for eco-tourism, hiking, and conservation efforts aimed at preserving the region’s fragile ecosystems. Current H4H sites are positioned in the Namaqualand in the Succulent Karoo biodiversity hotspot of South Africa. A high diversity of arid-adapted shrubs, grasses and coastal vegetation grow in the area. Subsistence livestock farmers graze their small-stock in the commonage areas of Concordia, Kharkhams, Lieliefontein, Nourivier, Paulshoek, Spoegrivier, Steinkopf and Tweerivier.
South Africa, Namibia
Reduced poverty, increased job security, community climate resilience and adaptation, improved ecological connectivity, strong local leadership andgovernance, thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, greater involvement of women in decision-making
Planned grazing, herding, climate-resilient livestock breeds, soil erosion control, co-operative governance
700, 000 hectares
118, 649 hectares
426 jobs created
946 beneficiaries
The H4H sites are located in the Namakwa District Municipality of the Northern Cape Province in South Africa. The area contains 70 high priority biodiversity areas covering over a million hectares of semi-arid rangeland. Since much of the area is unsuitable for crop farming, people living in the area are greatly dependent on livestock farming (mostly sheep and goats). Water scarcity in Namakwa is a challenge due to low winter rainfall and extreme aridity, making the land unsuitable for crops. Consequently, the local economy relies on livestock and coastal fishing. Over a million hectares of semi-arid rangelands are facing threats from overgrazing, mining, renewable energy projects, and climate change, leading to soil erosion.
Livestock are threatened by predators – but old-fashioned shepherding may be an effective solution
Carnivores like leopards, lions and hyenas have been killing livestock for centuries, causing financial losses to farmers.
