CCF guarding-dog survey The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is planning to conduct a countrywide health survey of livestock guarding dogs.
This year, in combination with the regular farmer questionnaires, the CCF will conduct a countrywide health survey of the dogs they have placed, as well as of mongrels working on the same farms. The dogs will be given a free health check-up and the results will be shared with the owners. The over-all health of the dogs has been a key factor in the protectiveness reported by the farmers. The farmer questionnaires measure the efficiency of the Livestock Guarding Dog programme.
The CCF has been providing livestock guarding dogs to interested Namibian farmers for the last 15 years. The Turkish shepherd dogs (Anatolian shepherd and Kangal) allow the farmers to control the predators in a non-lethal way: the dogs protect the livestock from predators, so there is no need to kill the predators, enabling the livestock, farmers, their dogs, and the cheetahs to share the same land. Through non-lethal predator management, predators learn to avoid livestock areas, reducing the risk of their becoming habitual livestock predators.
In Namibia 95% of all cheetahs live on livestock farmland and their presence is a great attraction for tourists. The cats play an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Good farming practices contribute to the farmers’ livelihoods, conservation of predators, and tourism. Since its inception in 1994, the CCF Livestock Guarding Dog programme has bred and placed about 350 dogs. Currently there are over 100 dogs working on Namibian farms. http://www.cheetah.org
2008 Conservancy Report launched The 2008 Conservancy Report was made available to the public at the Namibia Nature Foundation’s Annual Corporate Function during November 2009.
In 2003, the Namibia Com--munity Based National Re---source Management (CBNRM) Programme made a decision to profile the conservancy movement through the production of an annual State of Conservancy (SOC) report. The report showcases CBNRM and conservancy programmatic achievements, impacts and progress and is used to increase awareness of the conservancy movement amongst decision-makers, donors, and the public at large.
Thus far, NACSO and its partners have published five of these reports, which are being produced in two formats. For odd calendar years (2003, 2005 and 2007) the SOC reports were produced as comprehensive A4-sized books, with photos, in-depth programmatic analysis, and detailed profiles on conservancies. In contrast, for the even calendar years (2004, 2006 and 2008) the SOC reports were produced as A5 booklets, which provide a streamlined summary of calendar year progress.
The Namibia Nature Foun-dation (as NACSO’s appointed CBNRM Monitoring and Evaluation institution) was mandated by NACSO to compile and produce the annual SOC reports. Consequently, the NNF is responsible for working with partner CBNRM organisations in the collection of data, analysis of such data, co-ordination of the section narratives, report illustration, report layout and final report publication and distribution. www.nnf.org.na Namib National Park to be part of biggest in Africa The National West Coast Recreation Area (between Sandwich Harbour and the Ugab River) is soon to be consolidated into one conservation area and proclaimed as the Namib National Park. Combined with the existing Skeleton Coast Park, Namib-Naukluft Park, Sperrgebiet National Park and the Namibian Islands Marine Protected Area launched in July 2009, it will form the greater Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park. Namibia will thereby become the first continental country to have its total coastline protected.
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism considered various naming options for the greater coastal park. Namib-Skeleton Coast National Park was considered to be the most practical and most representative for the entire area and the Namib National Park as the most appropriate name for the central region. The reasoning was that these names are already well known worldwide and the brand is considered as strong by existing and potential new investors. www.nacoma.org.na
Fenceless wildlife areas N/a’an ku sę, well-known wildlife sanctuary just outside Windhoek, and eco-friendly guest farm, Ondekaremba, are working towards crea-ting a fenceless area for wildlife to roam free. The two establishments have decided to remove four kilometres of border fence and thus create a 9 300-hectare fenceless area. Oliver Rust from Ondekaremba and Rudi van Vuuren both share the vision of creating a conservation area where wildlife can roam freely. They are hoping to inspire neighbouring landowners to join the reserve. The mission of N/a’an ku sę is to conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever-shrinking habitat. www.ecotourism-namibia.com www.ondekaremba.de
