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Angola Coastal Communities |
Angola has a coastline of 1,650 km that stretches from the mouth of the Congo River in the north to the mouth of the Cunene River in the south and includes the northern enclave of Cabinda—separated from Angola by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ranging from the humid tropics in the north to arid zones in the south, this coast boasts lush vegetation and major oil fields in the northern Provinces of Cabinda and Zaire, rich water resources and the large Kissama Natural Park in the Bengo Province, a capital that has grown dramatically in the Luanda Province, attractive beaches in the Cuanza Sul Province, a major fishing sector in the Province of Benguela, and the emerging Iona-Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area in the southernmost Province of Namibe. The population is largely concentrated in the major urban centres along the coast such as Luanda, Benguela, Lobito, Namibe and Tômbwa, but there are around a hundred communities along the entire coast, their numbers dwindling in the desert regions of the extreme south of the country.
Provinces:
- Cabinda
- Zaire
- Bengo
- Luanda
- Cuanza Sul
- Benguela
- Namibe
1. CABINDA
Context
Cabinda is an enclave that is separated from Angola by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which borders the country in the north. The estimated population is 362,000 inhabitants, according to the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition. Marked by an equatorial climate with high humidity and precipitation, the province has 70% of the area covered by tropical rain forest and woodland. Cabinda has some of the world’s biggest oilfields off the coast as well as large areas of tropical forest, making oil production and timber the province’s economic mainstays.
Economic Activities
Important natural resources in the province include petroleum, diamonds, gold, magnesium, phosphates, uranium, gas, tropical wood, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, bananas, and fish. Cabinda has been producing petroleum since 1968 and currently accounts for most of the country’s production. Read more about the oil sector in Angola on the Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s Country Analysis Brief for Angola. See also maps of Angola’s Oil Exploration/ Production on the pages of EIA and Sonangol. Fish catches by the province’s artisanal sector amounted to 3,691 t in 2002 or near 3% of total catches in the country, according to the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA). Read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola.
Environment and Conservation
Some forest areas in the province are almost impenetrable—these include the great forest of Maiombe and the Forest Reserve of Kakongo. The fauna includes gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants and diverse bird species.
2. ZAIRE
Context
Zaire Province is flanked to the north by the Congo River that runs along the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The provincial capital is M’Banza Kongo. The population is estimated at 285,000 inhabitants according to the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition.
Economic Activities
The oil industry is the province’s greatest source of wealth. Read more about the oil sector in Angola on the Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s Country Analysis Brief for Angola. See also maps of Angola’s Oil Exploration/ Production on the pages of EIA and Sonangol. Other important mineral resources are asphalt, iron, phosphates, lead, and zinc. Manioc, cashew nuts, castor-oil, citrus fruit, coffee, massambala, palm oil, pineapples, peanuts, rice, soybeans, sweet potatoes are some of the province’s agricultural resources. Salt farming is practiced at N’Zeto and artisanal fishing along the province’s coast. In 2002 the catches by the artisanal sector amounted to 5,707 t or 4% of total catches in the country, according to the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA). Read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola.
Environment and Conservation
With a climate varying from tropical to humid, the lush vegetation oscillates between forest and savannah. The Congo River on the province’s northern border is an important site for freshwater biodiversity.
3. BENGO
Context
In the Bengo Province, where the climate is tropical dry, agriculture is the main economic activity. The capital is Caxito and the population in the province is estimated at 322,000 inhabitants according to the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition.
Economic Activities
Agricultural resources include avocado, cotton, pineapple, banana, coffee, citrus fruit, beans, and mango. Mineral resources present in the province include sulfur, uranium, phosphates and quartz. Artisanal fishing is practiced and in 2002 a total of 2,220 t of fish catches were recorded by the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA). Read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola.
Environment and Conservation
Bengo is endowed with rich water resources, with many lakes, lagoons and rivers in the province, including the largest in Angola—the Cuanza River. The Cuanza River Mouth, on the border between the Luanda and Bengo Provinces, is an important mangrove habitat, and home to rare species of fish, birds and mammals
The Kissama National Park is flanked to the west by 120 km of coast, to the north by the Cuanza River and to the south by the Longa River. The habitats in the 9 600 km2 area vary greatly from the flood plain of the Cuanza River and adjoining low escarpment, to the dense thicket, tree savannah and large open grasslands in the interior of the park. The numbers of species such as dwarf forest buffalo, elephant, rhino, roan antelope, eland, bushbuck, waterbuck, manatee, marine turtles and tarpin have dwindled considerably due to decades of war, poaching and over utilisation of herbaceous vegetation but there are projects underway to increase their numbers. The riverbanks become submerged in the rainy season and birds such as flamingos, herons, pelicans, wild ducks, sea-gulls, eagles and crows flock to the area. Approximately 9,000 people live within the borders of the park, many of which war refugees that are today dependent on the surrounding flora and fauna to make a living. Visit the Kissama Foundation Kiosk on DLIST.
4. LUANDA
Context
The Province of Luanda is home to the national capital Luanda. The city has grown dramatically with the influx of people from the countryside in search of security during the war decades. In 1995 the population was estimated at 2 million inhabitants. The UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition mentions a population of almost 3 million, while non-official estimates reach 4 million.
Economic Activities
The province is home to one of the three most important ports in the country. In 2002 artisanal fisheries in the province accounted for nearly 19% of the country’s total catches (25,125 t). Visit the page of the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA) or read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola. Sand extraction for the construction sector is practiced south and north of Luanda, with significant impacts especially along the coast between the Cuanza River Mouth and the Mussulo Peninsula.
Environment and Conservation
During the conflict decades, the large scale population movements from the worst-affected areas of the hinterland to more secure coastal cities such as Luanda have led the city to grow exponentially. This growth happened in an uncontrolled manner and the city is facing serious problems in housing and the sanitation and solid waste systems.
Off the coast of the city of Luanda, the Ilhéu dos Pássaros Natural Reserve is an island covered by mangroves and a key habitat for marine birds. This island and the nearby Saco dos Flamingos are the first sites proposed by the Ministry of Urban Planning and Environment for designation as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, one of the steps for the country to sign the Wetlands Convention. Other important wetland sites along the coast are the Cuanza River Mouth (between the Bengo and Luanda Provinces) and the Cunene River Mouth (Namibe Province). Read more about the country’s wetlands and steps being taken by the Government in the Policy Discussion Document: Towards a Draft National Wetland Policy for Angola.
5. CUANZA SUL
Context
The Province of Cuanza Sul lies on the south bank of the Cuanza River. The provincial capital is Sumbe and the population in the province is estimated at 1,130,273 inhabitants in the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition. With a tropical high-altitude climate and attractive landscape, Cuanza Sul has great potential for tourism.
Economic Activities
Fishing is the main economic activity, with total catches of 6,844 t by the artisanal sector in 2002. Visit the page of the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA) or read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola. The province also has important agricultural resources such as avocado, cotton, peanut, pineapple, banana, sweet potato, coffee, sugar cane, citrus fruit, mango, maize, vegetables and others.
Environment and Conservation
The province has excellent beaches and bays as well as rich fauna and flora. There are good conditions for nature-based tourism activities such as hunting, bird watching, water sports and caving.
6. BENGUELA
Context
The Benguela province, with its capital also called Benguela, has an estimated population of 1,570,000 inhabitants according to the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition. Lobito is home to one the main three ports in the country.
Economic Activities
Fishing is a major economic activity in the province. According to data from the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA) artisanal fishing catches in Benguela amounted to 55,550 t in 2002 or 41% of the total national catches. Read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola. The province has diverse agricultural resources including avocado, cotton, peanut, potato, sweet potato, maize, horticultural products, sunflower, and citrus fruit. Benguela has high potential for salt production due to low precipitation and high sun radiation. Existing salt production capacity in the province is 47,500 t, the highest in the country.
Environment and Conservation
The province has an enormous geographical diversity and some of the important protected areas are the Chimalavera Regional Natural Park, the Partial Reserve of Buffalo and forest reserves between Cubal and Catumbela and at Chongoroi.
7. NAMIBE
Context
The greatest fishing centre in Angola, the Namibe Province is flanked by the Cunene River on the south and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The capital is Namibe and the population is estimated at 253,000 inhabitants according to the UN’s 2004 Consolidated Appeal for Transition. The climate is humid to moderately rainy and desert-like, due to its nearness to the sea.
Economic Activities
Fishing is the main economic activity in the province and in 2002 the province’s artisanal fishing sector contributed to 27% of the total catches in the country (or 36,619 t) according to data from the Institute for Development of Artisanal Fishing (IPA). Read more on the short summary on artisanal fisheries in Angola. Agricultural resources include citrus fruit, olive trees, and horticultural products, and mineral resources include copper, plumb, zinc, uranium, sulfur, and marble. With favourable conditions of sun radiation and precipitation for salt production, the province has the second highest production capacity (27,500 t) after Benguela.
Environment and Conservation
The Namib Desert occupies the majority of the province’s area. The 15,150 km2 lona National Park has a topography ranging from sand dunes at sea level to the Tchamalinde Mountains in the east, with large plains occurring in the central area. The Park contains three types of plant growth including annual grass plains, active dunes as well as a combined mosaic of xerofitic shrubland, annual grass plains and dwarf shrub plains. While an impressive variety of game, including elephant, oryx, kudu, black rhino, cheetah, spotted hyena, several species of jackal and Damara Dik-Dik formerly occurred in the park, the present status of animals is unknown. Its beaches are nesting areas for marine turtles. The Park has suffered the effects of the war, with the presence of landmines, the destruction of infrastructure, the extinction of the black rhino and the reduction of the zebra population. The population in this area is estimated at 400 families, mainly animal farmers.
The Cunene River separates the Iona National Park from the Skeleton Coast National Park in Namibia. Read more about this emerging transfrontier conservation area between Angola and Namibia.
The Namibe Partial Reserve lies north of the Iona National Park and covers an area of 4,680 km2. The area consists of desert-like sand dunes, stretches of plains and rugged mountains. Mammals such as elephant, kudu, oryx, black rhino and Hartmanns’ mountain zebra previously occurred in the area, but their current status is unsure.
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