Gobabeb Research Station

The research centre Gobabeb is located in the Namib-Naukluft Park. For over 30 years ecological research has been carried out, resulting in a rich database concerning the ecology of the area. Today the continuing long-term ecological research efforts are being carried out towards understanding the interactions between and influences on ecology and human activities in arid environments and contributing to their sustainability.

The Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) facilitated research and study at Gobabeb by scientists, educators, post-graduate and undergraduate students from Namibia and around the world. These scientists, educators and students were supported by a comprehensive library collection concerning arid environments and basic laboratory equipment. Gobabeb provided a stimulating environment in which to work, a convenient base from which to conduct fieldwork in the Namib and elsewhere in Namibia.

Research in arid and semi-arid Namibia covers a multitude of subjects, both basic and applied. Study of the Namib desert by a great number of scientists from all over the world during the past thirty years has led to the creation of a rich store of knowledge and understanding of arid environments - particularly Namibia's. This wealth of information, which includes more than 500 publications emanating from staff and associates of the DRFN, supported ongoing activities and was available for use by researchers, students and the country at large.

Gobabeb, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia Gobabeb, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia Gobabeb, Namib-Naukluft Park, Namibia

Gobabeb and the surrounding research area present ideal research locations because the area presents several ecological systems including the sand dunes, gravel plains, riverbeds, both within and outside the fog belt. Climatic patterns such as wet and dry years are more pronounced in the area and distinguishable in this extremely arid environment, which makes it easier to study. Unlike other parts of Namibia, this area has low human disturbance, and thus presents better chances of studying ecosystem interrelations and interactions without the factor of the human disturbance.
A large part of the research is focused on aspects relating to three major environmental conventions: climate change, desertification
and biodiversity.
The station maintains four autographic weather stations throughout the central Namib Desert. Gobabeb maintains a thirty year weather record, and the daily weather readings are used by the national meteorological services, by flights and navigation of ships on the west coast, as well as for global climate monitoring.

Data gathered from long-term monitoring of invertebrates such as beetle species and vegetation e.g. grasses and Welwitschia, is used to model response of the environment to climatic events such as rainfall and droughts, and to determine indicators of land degradation and to contribute to the understanding of arid land ecology. Other databases include photographs and long-term studies of the Nara fruit (Acanthosicyos horridus), a staple food of the Topnaar communities.
The DRFN was involved with a number of communities in a variety of ways, especially with the Topnaars who live on the banks of the Kuiseb River.

Gobabeb is involved in the investigations of fog harvesting, and the Nara plants and its declining productivity in the Kuiseb Valley.

The Desert Research Foundation of Namibia has not been actively involved with activities at Gobabeb for almost a decade. A few years ago the two institutions finally separated after many years of activity, program and policy divergences. Gobabeb values the long years of close association with the DRFN that started in 1990, though the history of Gobabeb itself goes back to 1962. The work in the Central Namib and along the Kuiseb has always been primarily associated with Gobabeb, although that has been considered synonymous with outputs from DRFN for various reasons.

Related:

Facebook:

NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/namibia.namibia

SESRIEM SOSSUSVLEI:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sossusvlei

NAMIB-NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/namib.naukluft

TRAVEL NAMIBIA:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/travelnamibia

Contact & information:
E-mail: info@namibweb.com

Related Maps Accommodation in the area Activities in the area
Hotels Pensions B&Bs Lodges Camping & others
Maltahohe General map Atelier du Desert - - Solitaire Country Lodge Oahera Center Nature drives
Mariental Regions Maltahohe Hotel - - Hammerstein Lodge & Camp Farm Wildpark Wild cat tours
Photo galleries - Le Mirage - - Tsondab Valley Desert Farm Little Sossus Lodge Night & game drives
Duwisib Castle - - - - Tolou's Lodge Haruchas Guest Farm Sossus on Foot
Gibeon meteorite shower - - - - Namseb Game Lodge Farm Duwisib Rest Camp Balloon trips
Desert Express - - - - Weltevrede Betta Camp Site Tok Tokkie Trails
Resorts in National parks - - - - Kulala Wilderness Camp Burgsdorf Guest Farm -
Namib Naukluft National Park - - - - Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge Nubib Nature Camp -
Namib Desert Lodge camping - - - - - Ababis Guest Farm -

Bookmark and Share

Page created and serviced by

www.namibweb.com

Copyright © 1998-2024 namibweb.com - The online guide to Namibia
All rights reserved |
JOIN | VIDEO PORTFOLIO | VIDEO/PHOTO COLLECTION
Telegram | YouTube | Blog
Page is sponsored by ETS & Exploring Namibia TV

Disclaimer: no matter how often this page is updated and its accuracy is checked, www.namibweb.com and ETS
will not be held responsible for any change in opinion, information, facilities, services, conditions, etc. offered by
establishment/operator/service/information provider or any third party