Namibia wins international conservation award

Namibia has won the 2012 Markhor Award for Outstanding Conservation Performance in recognition of its exceptional wildlife conservation programme.

The award is the brainchild of the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation.
The prize was jointly awarded to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resources Management Support Organisations (Nacso).
Through the award, the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation, “honours conservation projects that link human livelihoods with the conservation of biodiversity”.
The award is given every two years at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, which was adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to which Namibia is a signatory.
Namibia’s winning of the award is ascribed to its sustainable game management plan, “according to which game may be harvested for trophy hunting, live capture and sale and for distribution of meat”, a statement issued by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Namibia said.
While there is increasing evidence that global and African wildlife is declining, Namibia has shown the opposite and has grown its wildlife exponentially in communal conservancy areas since independence.
“In the north-west Kunene Region, for example, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra numbers have grown from an estimated 1 000 in 1982 to around 27 000 today, and the population of the desert-adapted elephant has grown from around 150 to approximately 750 in the same period. Lions in Kunene have expanded in range and number from 20 in 1995 to an estimated 130 today, and Namibia has the world’s largest black rhino population,” WWF said.
The recovery of animals has been influenced by translocating large numbers of animals to communal conservancies, which was started in 1999. Through this programme, the Ministry of Environment has moved more than 8 300 head of game to conservancies.
Some of the wildlife moved include species such as black rhino, sable antelope, black faced impala and giraffe.
The director of WWF in Namibia, Chris Weaver, said Namibia’s nomination for the award is proof that “sustainable use of wildlife has been a strong catalyst to the recovery of wildlife in communal areas of Namibia, as participating conservancies have been quick to recognise that wildlife is more valuable alive than poached. As a result, poaching has become socially unacceptable”.
The International Council of Game and Wildlife Conservation said the introduction of communal conservancies in Namibia has brought about a “paradigm shift in community attitudes towards wildlife”.
Communal conservancies in Namibia have grown from four in 1998 to 76 in 2012, covering almost 19 per cent of the country.
The income from trophy hunting in the conservancies is use to pay conservancy salaries and also places many of these organisations on a sound financial footing.
Total benefits – including income from employment, in-kind benefits, and cash – to communal conservancies between 1998 and 2010 totalled N$179,3 million.

Derived from: The Namibian

By a Staff Reporter

New Establishments added to Namibian Voyage

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Offering accommodation to any desceerning traveller.
www.namibianvoyage.com
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“A Journey Starts With A Single Step”

New book highlights Namibias coastal treasures

SWAKOPMUND - A new book, “Namibia’s Coast; Ocean Riches and Desert Treasures,” was launched last week by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (Nacoma) project in Swakopmund.
The book was compiled over a period of six years and cost N$300 000 to print.

According to Rod Braby, the book profiles the rich heritage sites and scenery that make Namibia a unique tourist destination.
The book showcases information collected by Nacoma and other published information on the Benguela Current and the desert, highlighting the importance of where the icy waters of the South-East Atlantic connect with the burning shores of Namibia.

The objective of the Nacoma project is to improve awareness of coastal biodiversity, environmental challenges and the coastal resource value, as well as to promote and develop the concept of the Namibian Integrated Coastal Management System.

The book also seeks to improve management, understanding and appreciation of the coast by providing information to a wide audience of managers, students, tourists, entrepreneurs and the general public.
Nacoma has implemented over 400 separate awareness activities over the past years and in addition has developed a user-friendly website.

“Namibia’s Coast; Ocean Riches and Desert Treasures,” is a 192-page book of well-illustrated useful content for multiple end users. The book is produced by Raison (Research and Information Services of Namibia) and is published by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Nacoma project.

Co-authors of the book are Tony Robertson, Alice Jarvis, John Mendelsohn and Ro-ger Swart. They were also responsible for the publication of the Namibian Atlas.

Sany le Roux did the design and layout.

The publication portrays the Namibian coast as a rugged, sometimes bleak and forbidden, largely uninhabited area that is a fascinating and complex mix of riches and paucity.

The warm and dry Namib Desert stands in stark contrast to the cold waters of the Benguela Current that is extremely biologically productive.

In combination, the ocean and desert provide a harsh and spectacular environment that remains largely pristine.
Complimentary books will be distributed to key coastal stakeholders such as schools, universities and local and regional councils.
The book will also be available in several bookshops around the country in due course. Proceeds from the sales will be used to reprint the book.

Derived from the: New Era
Story by Eveline de Klerk          

Namibian elephants find new home in Mexico

NINE elephants from Namibia, aged between six and ten years old, have been relocated to Mexico’s acclaimed African Safari Zoo.

For 10 months, the elephants from Namib Game Services were kept in a quarantine camp and several tests for animal diseases were conducted on the world’s largest terrestrial mammals which according to the owner, Herbert Henle, were in excellent condition.
“The elephants were tranquillised so that they could be lifted into crates and transported to the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where a Boeing 777-F of Lan Cargo in the US transported them to Mexico,” Hernle told The Namibian.
After more than 40 hours in transit, the elephants finally touched down in Mexico last weekend.
During the last count of elephants in Mexico, it was established there were only 29 of the animals left in the South American country.
Describing the relocation process, the zoo’s general director Frank Camacho said: “The rescue was a very complex operation that involved six people being in Namibia for 21 days and many months of preparation before that happened. Fortunately we were able to do it.”
The Mexican zoo was competing with other animal parks from around the world for the precious elephants. Renowned for its prized conservation and education programme, the zoo beat its competition to nab all nine mammals.
“It was very complex. There were many countries who were interested in participating in this rescue and only African Safari got it. It was a race against time, as we had to do very complex logistical operations, negotiations with the governments of Namibia and Mexico. We achieved it with will power, we got the support of an airline so we could bring this large, valuable cargo,” said the zoo officials.
Henle explained that with such a operation it is vital that the right equipment is used for the loading and transporting of the animals.
“However, we have gained some experience during the last few years with the exporting of some other game species, including rhinos and giraffes.”
The nine elephants are currently under careful observation by zoo medics after their long journey. Zoo officials hope to move the mammals to a spacious elephant enclosure in the park in the near future.
African Safari Zoo is now home to one of the largest zoo populations in Latin America and with its new additions, the zoo hopes to expand its elephant population even further.

–Additional reporting by 3news.co.nz

Derived from: The Namibia
By: Jan Poolman

Namibian Voyage now on the Namibia Tourism Board website

Namibian Voyage is now also listed on the Namibian Tourism Board website. To make booking or get an accommodation quotation pleae email us at info@namibianvoyage.com or visit our website www.namibianvoyage.com

Northern Cape targets Namibian tourism

Windhoek - The Northern Cape Tourism Authority will return to the Namibian Tourism Expo this week to showcase the unique tourism offerings of South Africa’s largest province.

The destination marketing organisation will attend this highly popular exhibition from June 6 - 9 to once again forge valuable relationships with tourism role players from neighbouring countries and around the globe.

The Northern Cape forms an integral part of the Cape-to-Namibia route as the Namaqua and Green Kalahari regions are en-route for travellers to Namibia.

“The Northern Cape is an essential gateway to Namibia and offers travellers the ideal opportunity to explore the truly exceptional natural and cultural offerings of the province. We have a mutually beneficial relationship with our tourism partners in Namibia as this allows us to further engage with an already existing audience.

“In terms of value for money and the diversity of outdoor and adventure experiences, the Northern Cape is undoubtedly unique,” stated Dianna Martin, General Manager: Marketing and Promotions with the Northern Cape Tourism Authority.
A number of tourism regions, namely Green Kalahari Tourism and Namakwa Tourism, will join the Northern Cape Tourism Authority at stand G23 in the Gourmet Hall.

Upington is at the epicentre of the Green Kalahari region, which is home to the mighty Orange River, the impressive Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

The Namaqua region is world famous for its flamboyant floral kingdom, which is considered to be the richest bulb flora arid region in the world, as well as the rugged |Ai-|Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park and the best star-gazing on earth at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland.

Several SMME operators from the Northern Cape, including Aukwatowa Tours and Tata Ma Tata Tours, will also join the show as part of the NCTA’s ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable development of tourism partners in the province.

Other tourism partners and role players sharing the stand include Boundless Africa, Umkulu Safaris, Orange River Wine Cellars and several route partners; the Kalahari Red Dune Route, the Quiver Tree Route and Richtersveld Route.
Visitors to the Northern Cape stand will be able to explore numerous reasons why the province is a must-see on any travel itinerary.

The unique flavour and flair of this vast province offer a truly remarkable holiday destination with unforgettable, enriching experiences ranging from cultural encounters to great weather, amazing adventures and natural beauty and wildlife.
All this is encompassed with the innate sense of being embraced by community and the indigenous warm hospitality of the province.

The Northern Cape has proven itself as a mecca for adventure and extreme sports and will not only be hosting the prestigious Maloof Money Cup skateboarding world championships for the next four years, but will also be the venue for the Bloodhound Supersonic Car world land speed record attempt in 2013 and 2014.

It was extremely proud to further announce a new event, the first-ever annual Speedweek Club event in Africa for both vehicles and motorcycles. It will be officially known as the Kalahari Desert Speedweek and will be held on Hakskeenpan from Sunday Aug. 5 2012 to Saturday 18 Aug.

Derived from: New Era

Namibia one of the greatest African wildlife recovery stories

FORTY-TWO per cent of Namibia’s land is under conservation management. This makes Namibia one of the countries with the largest conservation area.

At independence in 1990, only 13 per cent of the land area in Namibia was under conservation management.
Namibia’s 42 per cent is no mean feat considering that Belize has 36 per cent, Zambia 35 per cent, Botswana 30 per cent and South Africa 12 per cent under conservation.
The areas under conservation include national parks and protected areas, communal conservancies and freehold conservancies.
There are currently 71 gazetted communal conservancies in Namibia, covering over 18 per cent of the country. There are also 19 freehold conservancies, formed by commercial farmers grouping together as conservancy associations.
Namibia is also the only country where the elephant population grew by a third between 1995 and 2008.
Translocated black rhinos are expanding their range as Namibia is leading Africa in moving black rhino out of national parks into the safety of communal conservancies. The country also has the largest population of wild cheetah and the largest annual game count in the world takes place in Namibia.
It is also the only country in Africa with expanding free-roaming giraffe and lion populations.
The ranges and numbers of lion populations from the Caprivi wetlands, where the black-maned lions prey on the African buffalo, to the Skeleton Coast where documented numbers have risen from just 25 in 1995 to well over a hundred today, make Namibia one of the greatest African wildlife recovery stories ever told.
There are 42 established joint-venture lodges and campsites, which makes Namibia a world leader in developing a tourism product that contributes to conservation and community development.
The first four conservancies were formed in 1998 after legislation made it possible for communities to have the same rights over wildlife as commercial farmers, who were allowed to hunt on their farms.
For the first time, rural communities could generate income from conservancies through trophy hunting.
Conservancies are meant to protect wildlife and its habitat, so having rights over wild animals does not mean unlimited hunting.
Game guards from the community are employed by the conservancy to patrol and deter poachers. The guards also assist the Ministry of Environment and Tourism with the monitoring of the annual game counts. The ministry also sets the quotas for hunting to allow the wildlife populations to grow.
Conservancies have rights over tourism operators and investors who want to open lodges and the two parties enter into a joint partnership with the conservancy for the benefit of all. The conservancy shares in the income from the lodge and also benefits from job opportunities created from the joint ventures.
Namibians are invited to experience the conservation journey of the country at the annual Tourism Expo. Guides from different conservancies will be on hand in Hall M at the Windhoek Showgrounds to show visitors around and talk about their conservancy.

Growing... Namibia's elephant population has grown by a third between 1995 & 2008

Derived from: The Namibian

By: Tanja Bause