• Brandberg Biodiversity Action Day The UN has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. In this context, a global action day and media event – the International Biodiversity Action Day 2010 – was held in Namibia and a further 35 countries.
Our highest mountain, the Brandberg (peaking at 2 574 metres), and its surroundings, were the impressive setting for the event, providing various stakeholders with hands-on experiences and insights into the unparalleled significance of biodiversity for sustainable development. The unique features of the Brandberg, and the Tsiseb Conservancy surrounding it today, are most suitable to illustrate how essential biodiversity is and has always been to human well-being.
Hands-on experience Under the maxim Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for Human Development or simply Nature for Development, a variety of stakeholders including local residents, scientists, government officials, representatives of national and international development agencies, journalists, teachers, students and guests were involved in this event. The activities provided hands-on experiences and insights into the value of ecosystems around the Brandberg and their biodiversity in a way that is easily understandable.
Participants gained hands-on experiences in a wide range of topics related to biodiversity and ecosystem services in six different groups. These were: Conservancies: biodiversity, the base of living; the Brandberg’s rock paintings: messages of the past for the future; The Ugab Wetlands: water is life; Small heroes: invertebrates keep the circle going; Mammals: brothers from other mothers; and Plants: the base of civilisation.
The Namibian event was hosted from 7 to 9 May by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) and implemented in co-operation with the Namibian NGO EduVentures and the German Technical Co-operation (GTZ). It was further sponsored by Caprivi Car Hire, Pack Safaris, Car-Tech Namibia, Odyssey Car Hire, Enduro Namibia, Brandberg White Lady Lodge, and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia.
• Biodiversity Training Workshop During April, a media-training workshop was held at the Waterberg Plateau Park. The workshop, themed Strengthening Capacity Enhancement to Implement the Global Environmental Conventions in Namibia, was held with several objectives in mind. These were to enlighten local environmental journalists on biodiversity-related issues; how best the media can report on biodiversity issues and ensure accurate and informative reporting in contributing to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 and for future reporting; for media trainers to gain an insight into the UN Convention on Biological Diversity; and for the MET Environment Education Centre to deepen their understanding of the subject.
www.dea.met.gov.na • Focus on wildlife/power-line interactions Sixty (9%) of Namibia’s 676 bird species are recognised as being under threat. This group comprises birds of prey (raptors), especially scavenging species such as vultures (30%); inland wetland birds such as cranes and storks (37%); coastal and marine birds such as flamingos (33%); and birds of the northern river systems (13%). Although little is known about the relative extent of the impacts of electrocution and collisions with electricity structures at present (compared to other causes of bird mortality), these factors are believed to constitute a very real threat.
Many of the impacts could be reduced or prevented with appropriate communication, planning and management. As a result, the NamPower/Namibia Nature Foundation Strategic Partnership was launched in October 2008. The mission of the partnership is to provide a multi-disciplinary mechanism to assist NamPower and the Regional Electricity Distributors (REDS) to manage their impact on the natural environment and vice versa, and to develop a biodiversity information resource that will assist Namibian environmental and industry role players to manage impacts on Namibia’s biodiversity.
All new NamPower power-lines are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), in terms of which potential problem areas are identified and appropriate mitigation measures recommended. NamPower is monitoring the power lines to measure the effectiveness of the mitigation methods.
The partnership has also established a web-based Environmental Information Service (EIS) that consists of a large number of databases, information and reports. The EIS will facilitate the incorporation of bird mitigation methods into the planning of future electricity networks by providing a comprehensive information base for the EIAs.
A countrywide series of awareness and training workshops is being conducted in key areas. Although the focus is on NamPower and RED staff, landowners and managers or anyone else interested is welcome to participate. Contact Mike and Ann Scott
• !Nara essay competition – the fire of my ancestors The !nara plant plays a vital role in the central Namib Desert ecosystem and culture of the Topnaar people. For centuries the Topnaars have used this fascinating desert-adapted plant in their diet, and today they generate income by selling !nara seeds in Namibia and South Africa. Since 2008 the small Swakopmund-based company Desert Hills has been producing a truly Namibian cold-pressed !nara food oil and !nara oil cosmetics including body cream, sunscreen, soap and tissue oil. By adding value to the snack sales, the cash income of the Topnaar harvesters has been raised.
Desert Hills and the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre have acknowledged the vital issues of sustainable use of the !nara and have teamed up to monitor the harvest practices and raise awareness to secure the future of this unique plant. As part of an awareness-raising effort, the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre, in co-operation with Desert Hills, held a !nara essay competition, which was open to all secondary school learners in grades 9 to 11 in Walvis Bay. A total of six learners, three from De Duine Secondary School and three from Kuisebmond Secondary School, submitted winning essays. These winners were invited to attend a !Nara Weekend Course at the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre. Winners were selected based on the creativity of their essays, research they conducted and a demonstrated understanding of the complexity of the !nara.
Pictured are the winners, fltr, back: Kaylene Adams, Roxe Scheepers and Mwiya Teresah, and front: Erastus Tuyeni Petrus, Dirk Grobler and Wendy Touros.
