8. Naukluft Park • Namibia

We have selected 100 unique places on Earth that are projected to
undergo profound changes within the next few generations.

We based our selection of the 100 places on the 4th Assessment
Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Simply by drawing attention to the beauty of these places, 100 Places to
Remember Before they Disappear creates an argument to preserve
them.

The 100 Places we have chosen to highlight, and the people who
live in them, are in serious danger because of rising sea levels, rising
temperatures and extreme weather events triggered by climate change.

Among ambassadors are Joss Stone, Desmund Tutu for more info visit http://www.100places.com.

Land of Open Spaces

The Namibian Desert is believed to be the oldest desert in the world. Straddling the Atlantic coast of south-west Africa, it is home to the biggest migrating dunes in the world. Shaped by the west wind from the Atlantic, they reach heights of 300 metres. Namibia means Land of open spaces, and is named after the desert.

The dunes move at a speed of about 20 metres a year. Further inland, they merge with a landscape of bush and savannah, rich in grass, scattered trees and a wealth of rare plants and animal species unique to the region. Ancient nomadic tribes have roamed here for centuries, searching for pastures to feed their cattle.

Moisture from the sea in the form of fog and rain carried on the westerly wind is crucial for the sparse flora and wildlife, and indeed for all life in the bush and savanna.

Climate change is expected to increase the strength of the Atlantic winds and induce more frequent droughts in the Namibian Desert. In turn, this will lead to a dramatic increase in the number of migrating dunes, which will travel eastwards across the land at a faster rate, threatening the vegetation, wildlife and traditional way of life of the nomads.

It is estimated that a temperature rise of 2.1ºC would wipe out 41-51% of Namibias unique flora and wildlife. Within the next 80 years, temperatures are projected to rise by up to 3.5ºC.

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• COP 15
• 100 places
• 100places
• 100
• climate
• change

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