smoothing the way forward for protected area management in Namibia Issue 16 September / December 2009

Special n Bumper E id ti o Human-Wildlife Conflict Management

The newsletter of the Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project Project of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Sponsored by: From the Editor’s Desk This bumper edition of Sandpaper focuses on and link parks and MET park management with Human Wildlife Conflict Management (HWCM). lo cal, national and international partners. It is undoubtedly the most complex issue the Through publishing, we also preserve our Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) has to knowledge and experience for people to read and deal with, and has become part and parcel of the learn from for years to come! MET field staff's daily work. We have never been short of stories and photo Namibia has seen a remarkable recovery of materials. Many have been contributed by MET wildlife in the last 15 years owing to the staff members. Rather we are having to increase Sandpaper government's commitment to safeguarding our page numbers constantly! The five to ten protected areas and granting rights over wildlife thousand copies we print are distributed widely to Editor to communities. The tireless efforts by so many all MET staff, conservancies, schools, foreign Midori Paxton people whether they are MET officials, non- missions, NGO and private sector partners. It has governmental researchers and conservationists, been great to see people reading Sandpaper Copy Editor or community members, has achieved remarkable whenever I visit the field, and the feedback from Linda Baker results evidenced by an extra-ordinary increase in park staff and our non-MET partners has been Contributors wildlife populations. One of the side effects of really encouraging. Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah this success was the HWC. Dr Kalumbi Shangula Ben Beytell Now, I must confess that this issue probably will Paulus Ashili The MET, in collaboration with the communities, be the last issue for me. I have been the privileged Jen Bartlett André Baumgarten NGO and private sector partners, is actively Editor of Sandpaper for the last four years. As Kaarina Eelu addressing this problem, through the HWCM many of our friends and colleagues have moved Augustine Ganes Christian Goltz Policy and the implementation of various on, it is now my time to move on. I will be leaving Irene !Hoaës mitigation and adaptation measures. It is our the SPAN Project for a challenging position in Paulus Johannes th Apollo Kannyinga hope that this 16 issue of Sandpaper will play an Bangkok, Thailand, to develop and manage Sven-Eric Kanzler important role in enhancing people's UNDP/GEF biodiversity projects and programmes Taimi Kapalanga Immanuel Kapofi understanding of the HWC issues and efforts to in the Asia Pacific Region for some years. I will Kami Lee minimise the negative impact of HWC. return to this magnificent country. I have spent Timoteus Mateus Iita Ginger Mauney the last ten years working on conservation here. Simon Mayes Acting as a vehicle for awareness raising and I must say that the SPAN project has been my Peter Menzel Samson Mulonga information exchange was always a mission of passion and I have spent countless hours in my Leeverty Muyoba Sandpaper since we published the first issue in office in the PZN building. I hope that with the Colin Nott Rod Potter 2005. I wrote in my first editorial that the name MET colleagues, the Project will continue to make Hans Rack Sandpaper signifies what the MET aims to do using a difference in the next three years to come! Zelda Rafie Obed Rukoro the SPAN Project: to smooth and improve park Martin Shikongo operations for conservation, and to unlock the I look forward to receiving future copies of Kosmos Shilongo Michael Sibalatani park system's extraordinary potential for the Sandpaper and to contribute to the magazine if I Colgar Sikopo Namibian people. can from the East. Cheerio for now, but please Teresa Squazzin Isaskar Uahoo keep in touch! Theo Wassenaar Sandpaper was created also to act as a forum for Hugh Paxton Midori Paxton Andreas Akwaake exchanging information and experience between staff in different parks, boost park staff morale, Project Coordinator Support Team Nick de Voss Vanessa Groenewald Features Design and Layout Message from the Minister 2 Plastiprint Dezine Contents An introduction to the HWC Policy 3 Printing Solitaire Press Background to the HWC Policy 4 3 Park Innovation Grant 7 Publisher Strengthening the Protected Area National Conference on HWC Policy 8 Network (SPAN) Project, Directorate of Parks and Wildlife Management Herding & Planned Grazing 10 (DPWM), Ministry of Environment and Tourism MET Park Brochures 12 Private Bag 13306, Windhoek Tel: +264 61 284 2569 Mangetti Update 14 Fax: +264 61 245160 [email protected] Rhino Scene of Crime Training 23 MET Field Awards 24 Cover photo: Hans Rack Tribute to Des Bartlett 28 The opinions of Sandpaper's contrib- uting authors are not necessarily the 24 NAMETT 30 views of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism or Sandpaper. The Min- istry of Environment and Tourism, the authors and Sandpaper accept no Regulars liability for views expressed herein. From Ben’s Briefcase 1 None of the contributors receive any form of remuneration for their Warden Profile 16 contributions. No part of the magazine may be Park Profile 20 reproduced without written permission from the publisher. SPAN Update 32 T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n i s Park News 34 printed on 100% recycled paper. Quiz 37 Park Talk Back cover By Ben Beytell Director: DPWM From Ben’s Briefcase

“Tjek! Tjek!” #Cwi shouted while he furiously hunter after a lion kill. The lions were having a hacked away at the tough sinews connecting field day: Never was it that easy to kill their the haunch of the giraffe carcass to the rest of prey! Then they became bolder, and entered the animal. He was glancing nervously at a low the town in search of easy prey. I remember bush about thirty yards away. I was looking the standing at the kraal, looking in bewilderment same way, but across the sights of the puny at the lifeless bodies of 27 cattle killed the little rifle that was trained on the forehead of previous night by a pride of 13 lions who simply one very annoyed lioness losing her evening ripped apart the mesh-wire and crawled meal to a bunch of meat-hungry Ju/'hoansi. through to start the massacre. There was no other option than to start a war against the “Be careful of the old woman, and shoot lions. In response to hysterical threats from straight when she comes for you”, Xhishe MET Head Office in Windhoek, we started with advised from the safety of the back of the pick- the elimination process: We shot them at night up. at the carcasses of freshly-killed cattle; we hunted them down in vehicles backed up by “There's the old man!” someone shouted Ju/'hoansi on horseback, and sometimes on excitedly. He was right. The big male raised foot when the kills were fresh, and they had himself, and sauntered lazily away to the eaten a lot. Some even set trap cages, and shot protection of a nearby bush. His belly, filled to them in their bloodied faces at close range. the extreme, swayed from side to side in Even the Ju/'hoansi shot them with poisoned rhythm with his gait, and he flopped down with arrows when they encountered them in the an audible grunt, his face red with blood, and bush, and they explained to me that a lion dies with a look of absolute content in his eyes. very easily from poison, because they are not the same as antelope, and the poison takes We eventually loaded an ample amount of effect much faster. meat, and were on our way back to Tsumkwe. I was trying, in vain, to light my pipe with The lions also, had their revenge: People were trembling fingers when Xhishe explained to me hurt, and even killed in the process. There about the strange relationship the Ju/'hoansi were many narrow escapes, and there were had with the King of the Beasts: lions that gave us a hard time, like old “Kromvoet” and his pride. He was wounded in “The lions are our dogs, and they care for us”, the front leg when one of his females was also he explained. “When they kill something, and wounded, and this led to the tragic death of a we arrive in time, we allow them to eat Ju/'hoansi tracker the next morning during the enough, and then we ask them for some of the final confrontation, but that is not something I meat. They allow us to take some meat, but we want to share with you. He became a myth in always leave something for them to eat the the Ju/'hoansi culture, and I believe even following day. You must just be careful when today, his endeavors are told by wise old men there is a female with small ones. She will think to the children, who listen in wide-eyed awe, you want to take the food of the young ones, while snuggled up to the comfort of their and may attack you. But that is what women mother's bodies. He was the lion that could not are like, as you know. Some people say there be killed by any human: When he tired of the Ben Beytell, are those amongst us who can change into pursuit, he would lie up and wait for the Few have as much lions, and like to communicate with them when hunters to pass, and then sneak away like a experience and know- it is dark, but that is not something we talk ghost in the night, back upon his track. He ledge of Namibia’s parks about, because it is like the people who have could disappear in thin air without a trace, and as MET Director of Parks bad spirits in them.” he fooled even the best trackers. He was a and Wildlife Manage- ghost, the spirit of the most powerful ment, Ben Beytell. This This symbiotic relationship, however, was soon witchdoctor that ever lived and he smirked at regular column provides to change with the arrival of cattle in the attempts of mortals who tried to end his an opportunity to learn Tsumkwe: When we off-loaded the first two life here on earth, because he was not from from someone who is at hundred cattle, about twenty took to the bush, here. the very heart of parks never to be seen again, except for the in Namibia. occasional report of the remains found by a That is why I believe the Ju/'hoansi: It is not

Continued on Pg 13 Sandpaper 1 The HWC Policy Message from the Minister

© Irene !Hoaës / New Era Hon Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, MP Minister of Environment and Tourism

Namibia has adopted a number of innovative approaches to achieve biodiversity The Government also recognises that such conservation within the framework of national conflicts have always existed where people development plans including Vision 2030 and and wildlife live together and will continue to poverty reduction strategies. Due to the do so in the future. This means that it will not commitment shown by Namibians, there has be possible to eradicate all conflict, but that been a remarkable recovery and increase of conflict has to be managed in the most © Trygve Cooper wildlife populations, including key predator effective and efficient ways possible. It has species and internationally threatened or thus far been impossible for the Government to endangered species such as elephant and black pursue a policy of direct compensation to rhinoceros. individual farmers because of the estimated cost of damage caused by wildlife across the Despite these successes, the Government country, and more importantly, the recognizes that living with wildlife often administrative problems that a compensation carries a cost, with increased wildlife scheme presents. It should also be recognized populations and expanded ranges into that people and wildlife live in an communal and freehold farming areas interconnected and dynamic environment, resulting in more frequent conflicts between that land use patterns are changing and that people and wild animals, particularly wildlife distribution patterns equally are elephants and predators in many areas. This changing, as populations recover and has resulted in livestock and crop losses, recolonise former parts of their distribution damage to water installations and, in some areas. instances, loss of human lives. The impacts of livestock losses and damage to crops on rural It is for these purposes that a detailed policy farmers are compounded by the effects of has been developed to manage human wildlife unemployment, lack of cash and the impact of conflict in a way that recognizes the rights and HIV and AIDS. There is therefore an urgent need development needs of local communities while t o f i n d p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h e s a n d at the same time recognizing the need to methodologies to reduce the impacts of promote biodiversity conservation. Human-Wildlife Conflict on our most vulnerable citizens. © Ministers’ Office

Right: © Samson Mulonga © Samson Mulonga The Hon. Minister on an official visit to the Sperrgebiet National Park with MET field staff.

Sandpaper 2 An introduction to the National Policy on Human-Wildlife Conflict Management Dr. Kalumbi Shangula Permanent Secretary

Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) refers to Regional Councils, non-Governmental conflict between wild animals and humans. organisations and researchers. The policy is This ranges from the destruction of crops and based on the ideas and experience of these water installations to loss of livestock, homes stakeholders and of officials of the Ministry of and in some cases loss of human lives. Friction Environment and Tourism over many years. between park managers and neighbouring communities living on the perimeters of The Ministry would therefore like to thank all protected areas potentially weakens the these partners and stakeholders who effectiveness of projects and programmes, for participated in developing this Policy. example the Conservancy Programme.

The National Policy of Human-Wildlife Conflict Management sets out the Government policy on human-wildlife conflict management and control. The strategies to implement the policy provide the content for the Policy and include land-use planning and integrated measures to avoid human-wildlife conflict, community- based natural resource management, devolution of decision-making authority to appropriate institutions, developing and implementing the best appropriate technical solutions for mitigating HWC, monitoring, evaluation, and research, building self- reliance, protected areas, removal of problem-causing animals, establishment of a system to assist affected families with funeral costs and application of revenues from problem-causing animals to avoid future conflict and to address the losses of affected persons.

The scale and urgency of the problem require Government to develop an integrated, flexible and comprehensive policy towards dealing with wildlife conflict that can provide a framework for all stakeholders and can meet the country's national and international commitments to biodiversity conservation while taking into account the rights and development needs of its people.

The policy has been developed through a series of consultations with a broad range of stakeholders that includes traditional authorities, communal area farmers, freehold farmers, communal area conservancies, Government officials in various ministries and

Sandpaper 3 Background and Summary of the National Policy on Human-Wildlife Conflict Management

By Colgar Sikopo Deputy Director, DPWM

© Andy Thompson

Above: Most Namibians depend on the land for their populations of all species throughout the Every year, a number of subsistence. But the presence of many species country. people are killed or injured of large mammals and predators, combined by crocodiles. with settlement patterns of people, leads to Government shall not establish a Below: MET staff patrol a mahangu conflict between people and wildlife. compensation scheme for losses caused by field. Addressing Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) wildlife. Middle: requires striking a balance between Kwandu resident demon- conservation priorities and the needs of people It is the responsibility of all citizens and strates drums used to chase who live with wildlife. Mechanisms are State agencies to manage HWC wherever it elephants. therefore needed for rural communities and occurs. Bottom: farmers to manage and benefit from wildlife Livestock is sometimes killed and other natural resources. The Policy on HWC management must by predators if not properly protected. promote self-reliance by farmers and other The scale and urgency of the problem required affected parties in managing conflict. Government to develop an integrated, flexible and comprehensive policy to deal with wildlife The Government shall provide technical conflict. It needed to provide a framework for assistance, where appropriate, to all stakeholders that met the country's national individuals and State agencies to develop and international commitments to biodiversity appropriate plans to manage HWC conservation while taking into account the efficiently and effectively. rights and development needs of its people. The economic value of wildlife should be © Andreas Akwaake The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) used to offset the losses caused by them. has therefore developed the National Policy on Human Wildlife Conflict Management. The HWC is a multi-faceted problem. To address its Policy was recently approved by Cabinet. impacts, 10 strategies have been developed to implement the Policy. This Policy will allow Governmen't and the MET in particular and its stakeholders, to manage These are: HWC in a way that recognises the rights and development needs of local communities, 1. Land-use planning and integrated promotes biodiversity conservation and self- measures to avoid HWC reliance and ensures that decision-making is This strategy will ensure that all individuals, quick, efficient and based on the best available organisations and State agencies take information. responsibility for carrying out appropriate land-use planning and developing integrated The Policy is based on a number of fundamental measures aimed at avoiding and/or reducing principles, being: HWC.

Wildlife is part of the natural environment Organisations, companies, development © Linda Baker that people depend on, and based on Article partners and State agencies including regional 95 (l) of the Constitution, must be councils and parastatals engaged in planning or maintained throughout the country as part supporting land-uses that might be affected by of the sustainable development that HWC must carry out appropriate measures to Government is committed to pursue. assess the likely extent of such conflict and to put in place appropriate mitigating measures. HWC is bound to occur where people and wildlife co-exist. Therefore the conflict Environmental assessments carried out under needs to be managed. national policy and legislation governing such assessments should include HWC where The needs of the people and the aims of appropriate. Particular attention should be © Linda Baker biodiversity conservation must be balanced. given to assessing and mitigating HWC in the planning and development of new water Government shall strive to maintain viable points, agricultural schemes, aquaculture

Sandpaper 4 schemes, resettlement schemes, the responsible for deciding whether a problem- development of new settlements and the causing animal should be destroyed and expansion of existing settlements. whether it should be destroyed by MET personnel or by a conservancy to which Mitigation measures should include authority has been delegated by the MET. The appropriate land-use planning and the authorised staff member will also be development of integrated HWC management responsible for ensuring that conservancies plans. The MET will support local communities, that have received delegated authority comply relevant local authorities, regional councils with this policy and all relevant legislation as and private entities to develop and implement well as the reporting requirements. Each appropriate HWC management and mitigation region should have an established decision- plans. The implementation of these plans making framework that provides reasons for © Linda Baker should be carried out through a Memorandum when a particular animal may be destroyed. of Understanding which should be signed by all relevant parties and should spell out the roles 4. Developing and implementing the best and responsibilities of each party. appropriate technical solutions for Above: mitigating Human Wildlife Conflict MET Ranger Matambo 2. Community-based Natural Resource One of the methods for managing HWC Singwangwa on a problem Management efficiently and effectively is to implement animal patrol in Mudumu National Park. The adoption of wildlife and tourism as measures to prevent or reduce conflict. additional forms of land-use by rural people Several technical solutions to prevent conflict indicates the success of the Government's have been tried and tested. However, species CBNRM programme. With regard to HWC, such as elephants become habituated to Government has encouraged the commercial certain solutions and ongoing experimentation use of the larger and more valuable species with new methodologies is needed. (that impact negatively on people) through activities such as trophy hunting to offset the Furthermore, the same species may cause losses that these species cause. different problems in different parts of the country. Elephants in the north and north east However, many of the economic benefits that cause damage to crops, whereas in the arid come from the use of wildlife in conservancies north-west they sometimes damage water accrue at the community level and do not installations. In some cases, management and necessarily offset the costs of losses to mitigation approaches are relatively simple. individual households caused by wildlife. Livestock losses can be reduced by herding Furthermore, not all individuals are animals into a strong kraal at night. In other Below: conservancy members and are thus not eligible cases, there might be a need to consider more Chili bombs are used in crop to benefit. Households in areas where sophisticated approaches such as electric fields to deter elephants. conservancies have not been formed do not fences. Bottom: receive any benefit from wildlife that can Elephants are one of offset costs of crop or livestock losses. The strategy will promote the development Namibia's principal problem- and application of appropriate and effective causing animals. There is a need to increase the direct benefits plans and measures to prevent or reduce HWC from wildlife and tourism to households and to by all relevant stakeholders. © Linda Baker explore ways in which losses caused by wildlife can be offset for non-conservancy members 5. Research and Monitoring and people living outside conservancies. This To manage HWC effectively and efficiently it is strategy will create sufficient economic and crucial to have comprehensive data available other benefits from the use of wildlife so that in a usable form for key decision-makers. This rural communities will view wildlife as an asset will enable Government and other rather than a liability. stakeholders to better understand the nature and scale of problems, help develop solutions 3. Delegation of decision-making authority and monitor the success of the solutions. It is crucial to avoid policies and procedures that lead to long delays in giving permission for Data gathering needs to be standardised so a problem-causing animal to be destroyed. that results can be compared from area to area Long delays often result in the animal moving and over time. Data needs to be stored in a away or the wrong animal being shot simply to central, accessible data-base. A key placate angry villagers. requirement is methodologies that can accurately measure the impact of damage to Local conflict needs to be dealt with at local crops and livestock losses on households so a level. Decision-making authority needs to be realistic picture is obtained of the true scale of delegated to the lowest level appropriate for a the problem. quick decision to be taken so that the identified problem-causing animal can be This strategy will allow for the establishment speedily destroyed, providing as much of a national data base in the Ministry and protection for people or property as possible. develop a standardised monitoring and reporting system on HWC that captures the This strategy allows the Minister to authorise most relevant data for use by all stakeholders. staff members of the Directorate of Parks and It will also allow for the monitoring and Wildlife Management (DPWM) to determine evaluation of the effectiveness of various HWC when to destroy a problem-causing animal. mitigation methods for dissemination to all

The authorised staff member will be stakeholders. © Linda Baker

Sandpaper 5 6. Building Self-Reliance reasons for limiting lethal removal to those This strategy will build the capacity of all instances where it is absolutely necessary. stakeholders to develop HWC management and However there are times when removal will be mitigation plans and to implement appropriate necessary, in particular where life and mitigation methods. It will also ensure that property are threatened, where animals HWC management is built into land-use persistently cause problems, or where the

© Linda Baker planning and the planning and implementation numbers of wild animals are so high that of agricultural and other development conflict becomes an intolerable burden on schemes. resident people.

This strategy also introduces the Human The Ministry will through this strategy, from Wildlife Self Reliance Scheme. It is not time to time and as becomes necessary, Government policy to provide compensation to increase hunting quotas in the short term, farmers for losses due to wild animals. including in areas outside conservancies. The Compensation schemes implemented Ministry will also consider the live capture and elsewhere have proved to be problematic and sale of problem-causing animals, and culling open to abuse. There is therefore a need to where necessary. © Linda Baker find other means to offset the losses caused by wildlife while building the self-reliance of 9. Establishment of a system to assist Top: farmers. affected families with funeral costs Community game guards A number of people are killed by wild animals work to minimize HWC. The objectives of the Human Wildlife Self every year in Namibia. Legally the State owns Above: Reliance Scheme are to provide the means to all wildlife except where legislation Hippo could be dangerous to offset the losses of communities and individual specifically provides otherwise. Although the humans. farmers caused to livestock and crops and Government cannot be held legally responsible promote the equitable distribution of benefits for the death of a person killed by a wild so that individuals who suffer losses can animal, there are moral obligations on the benefit from wildlife income. Government to support the family of such a person. Payments under the Human Wildlife Self Reliance Scheme are made to cover livestock The Government has therefore decided to losses at rates which do not cover the full value adopt the policy of providing funeral expenses Below: of the animal concerned but aim to partially for such a family. The objectives of this Colgar Sikopo with staff off-set the loss to the farmer. A payment at a strategy are to meet the moral obligation of members from Kahenge determined rate would also be made to cover Government to support a family who has lost a office inspection crop damages caused to crops. family member to certain species of wild damage by hippos at animals under conditions where the affected Simanja Village, Kavango The Human Wildlife Self Reliance Scheme shall person could not reasonably have been Region. apply to both conservancy and non- expected to defend himself/herself or to avoid Bottom: conservancy areas on State Land and the incident, and where the family has to incur A conservancy staff member shows a crocodile proof Resettlement farms, but not on private land. costs for a funeral. enclosure along the Chobe River in eastern Caprivi 7. Protected Areas Further the MET wishes to demonstrate its Region. Many of the conflicts between people and commitment to the welfare of Namibians while wildlife occur when wildlife leaves protected promoting biodiversity conservation. The areas and enters neighbouring farm land. A financial support to bereaved families aims at situation where wildlife from protected areas covering basic funeral costs and is not in any amounts to the export of economic and social way intended as compensation for loss of life. costs to neighbours undermines the conser- vation objectives of parks by creating negative 10. Application of revenues from problem- and sometimes hostile responses from causing animals to avoid future conflicts neighbours and park residents. and to address the losses of affected persons © Andreas Akwaake The Ministry's aim is for parks to be net If generating income from problem-causing exporters of valuable resources and economic animals is to be successful in addressing © Linda Baker benefits to neighbouring communities. There is problems at household level, then the income therefore a strong obligation on the Ministry to needs to be used to provide relief to those who assist farmers in addressing HWC which results have suffered the impact and/or to avoid the from wildlife leaving protected areas. repetition of the same problems in future.

This strategy will reduce the impact on park This strategy will ensure that income derived neighbours from wildlife that leaves protected from the hunting or sale of problem-causing areas and causes problems and provide animals is applied to avoid future conflicts economic and other benefits from protected between humans and wildlife. areas to park neighbours and residents. The Policy also makes provision for the 8. Removal of problem-causing animals institutional framework for implementation of The Ministry recognises that the removal of the Policy, with the MET playing the problem-causing animals either by lethal coordinating and leading role in its removal or by translocation does not always implementation. solve the problem and there are conservation

Sandpaper 6

National Conference on the implementation of the National Policy on Human-Wildlife

© Irene !Hoaës / New Era Conflict Management By Linda Baker SPAN Communication and Above: MET Under Secretary Partnership Development Officer Simeon N. Negumbo addresses the conference delegates. They came from all corners of Namibia, in what statement said it had not been practical for the some have called one of the most historic Government to pursue a policy of direct gatherings of its nature ever to be held in the compensation to individual farmers or country. communities. This was due to the complexity of such a compensation scheme and based on Nearly 300 stakeholders including traditional studies of neighbouring countries where authorities, conservancies, Regional Councils, compensation was expensive and difficult to Line Ministries, NGOs and MET officials met at a verify and control. Windhoek Hotel in early September to discuss the implementation of the National Policy on Namibia had thus decided on the introduction Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Management, of a “Human Wildlife Self Reliance Scheme” to that was recently approved by Cabinet. be incorporated in the National Policy.

Right Hon. Prime Minister Nahas Angula “Payments under this Scheme are envisaged to delivered the keynote speech on behalf of H.E. cover livestock losses at rates which may not President Hifikepunye Pohamba. He necessarily cover the full value of the animal commended the Ministry of Environment and concerned but could off-set the loss to the Tourism (MET) for organising the Conference. "I farmer. Payments at a determined rate would am pleased that the Policy has been finalized also be made to cover damages to crops. and that Cabinet approved it recently. " Moreover, funeral expenses will be covered for families who lose their members due to wild “The Government recognises that living with animals.” wildlife often carries a cost. Increased wildlife populations and expanded ranges into Earlier in the Conference, Colgar Sikopo, communal and freehold farming areas result in Deputy Director: Parks and Wildlife more frequent conflicts between people and Management explained to the gathering that wild animals. We also recognise that it will not N$2.7 million has initially been set aside to be possible to eradicate such conflict fund the scheme. completely without threatening the existence of wild animals. In her opening Statement, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon Netumbo Therefore, the conflict has to be managed in Nandi-Ndaitwah outlined Namibia's the most effective and efficient ways possible conservation successes since Independence to ensure that the livelihoods of communities that had earned the country an excellent are not threatened and that certain species of international reputation. our wildlife are not exposed to extinction,” the statement read. However, success had come at a cost.

He explained that this was the main reason why “The Ministry's offices across Namibia have the policy was introduced. reported intensifying problems and incident reports relating to human wildlife conflict. The “Our aim is to balance the needs of our people reports range from the destruction of crops and and the imperative of environmental water installations to loss of livestock, homes conservation in order to create a win-win and in some cases loss of human lives. Measures outcome. are therefore urgently needed to mitigate the conflict and increase the benefits of living Through the Policy, Government will delegate alongside wildlife,” she told the Conference. appropriate decision-making powers to the lower level institutions, develop appropriate mitigation and monitoring methods and In an effort to address human wildlife conflict develop the capacity of different stakeholders in a way that strikes a balance between to manage Human-Wildlife Conflict.” conservation priorities and the needs of people who live with such wildlife, the National Policy Addressing requests for compensation, the on Human Wildlife Conflict Management had

Sandpaper 8 © Irene !Hoaës / New Era © Irene !Hoaës / New Era © Irene !Hoaës / New Era

been developed. There is a need for special game water Above Left: sources that are situated away from densely Nearly 300 stakeholders, She explained that the problem of human populated human settlements. Special including many traditional wildlife conflict wass not unique to Namibia wildlife zones should be created as is done in authority representatives, participated in the alone. areas such as Mudumu North Complex in conference. Caprivi Region adjacent to the parks. “Other African countries are also working on Above Middle: creating innovative ways of addressing human Water points need to be protected against From the left: Minister of wildlife conflict management. Through the elephant damage and diesel pumps need to Environment and Tourism development of the Policy we learnt from the be subsidised by Government. Hon. Netumbo Nandi- successes, constraints and lessons learned by Ndaitwah, Right Hon. Prime other countries, while developing a uniquely MET officials should decrease or improve Minister Nahas Angula, Ben Beytell, Director of DPWM Namibian approach to the problem.” their response time when dealing with and Colgar Sikopo, Deputy human wildlife conflict. Lack of resources Director of DPWM. Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Chief Joseph such as transport severely hinders staff from Tembwe Mayuni of the Mashi Traditional responding quickly to incidents. Above Right: Authority said he was pleased that the MET and Simultaneous interpretation the Government in general understood 'the More research and monitoring is necessary into six Namibian languages way communities feel on this issue of human to identify migration patterns, especially of was provided at the wildlife conflict'. elephants. Research should also determine Conference. the population structure of potential “However and in my opinion, a country without problem-causing animals such as lions (i.e. elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hippos the predator/prey composition). and rhinos, is a country which is dead alive. We need to understand the importance of our In some areas it will be necessary to reduce biodiversity and ecosystem, while at the same the number of problem-causing animals time finding ways of managing the conflict such as elephants. which these wild animals can cause.” Early-warning systems concerning the presence of elephants and predators in an Representatives of communal and commercial area should be implemented. It was obvious farmers made remarks, while scores of trad- that some communities and conservancies itional leaders and conservancy represent- see the value of wildlife and live in harmony atives contributed to the proceedings during with it because they benefit from it, while the two-day Conference. others do not, especially livestock and crop farmers.

Ms. Erica Akuenje, Deputy Permanent Sec- Communication and feedback systems retary, summarised the most important issues between the Ministry and communities and to emerge as follows: other stakeholders need to be improved. Communication could also be strengthened Elephants seem to be the animals creating between conservancies and traditional the most conflict. Lions follow, while authorities. crocodiles are problematic in the northeast and there seems to be an increase in their As the new Policy recommends, line- numbers. Elephants are, however, an ministries need to sit together to plan land- important tourist attraction, especially in use activities in an integrated manner. the arid north western parts of Namibia. She assured all present that all recom- Fences around Protected Areas are in urgent mendations from the historic meeting had need of upgrading. These include those been recorded and proceedings will be around Etosha National Park and the distributed and posted on the MET website. Mahango Core Area of Bwabwata National Park.

Sandpaper 9 By Colin Nott Assistant Director, IRDNC Herding and planned grazing Developing synergies between land uses

The diversification of predominantly stress manner that improves animal livestock and cropping livelihoods with performance, reduces theft and livestock wildlife, tourism and high value plants losses due to poisonous plants. requires the development of synergies between primary and diversified economies. Planned grazing has also led to a reduction in HWC as cattle are herded daily to and from A strategy aimed at restoring rangeland pastures and are kraaled at night. This productivity in several regions in Namibia is drastically reduces HWC as most predators benefiting livestock and crop farmers while will not easily attack a herd, particularly helping to mitigate predator human wildlife when there are several herders com- conflict (HWC). municating and controlling the herd's movements. So far, no stock losses have been It is being developed by farmers with the recorded from predators in Kunene where support of Integrated Rural Development and planned grazing and herding is being Nature Conservation (IRNDC) in partnership practised, although lion, leopard cheetah with the ministries of Environment and and hyena occur in these areas. Tourism (MET) and Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) as well as traditional Under the system, herders or owners are authorities, regional councils and other key always present with their stock. stakeholders. Complications during birth are thus attended to and young animals are returned to the The Holistic Rangeland Management (HRM) homestead safely. Still births are thus programme addresses the root cause of correctly identified and not blamed on rangeland degradation in a culturally predators/ scavengers. acceptable and cost effective manner. It makes use of traditional management Other preventative measures include methods (herding) combined with planned building strong, dense and high kraal walls grazing to get livestock to the right place at (2.5m) that cannot be seen through and the right time for the right reasons. prevent predators from jumping into the kraal. They also avoid jumping onto unknown Planned grazing through the herding of all surfaces such as a rock, stump, or thorn bush livestock to a different area each day allows as the risk of injury is high. Predators may farmers to stop destroying their perennial charge a kraal to try and cause a stampede grasses. It also allows perennial grasses but if it can't see the livestock and the enough time to grow between grazing events livestock cant see predator then the so root reserves can strengthen over time. predator prey connection cannot develop. Below left: Combined with the factors, this results in Lion proof kraals used effectively in Zimbabwe. improved conditions for perennial grass re- Planned grazing and herding has several establishment and improved grass other benefits, such as benefits to high-value Below right: production over time. wildlife species, increase of tourism All livestock at a single potiential and improved crop production. water point are herded daily It also allows livestock to be handled in a low according to a grazing plan.

© Colin Nott © Colin Nott

Sandpaper 10 Planned grazing and herding benefits the farmer, his livestock, the land and enables complementary diversification of land uses ict t mitiga ion measures in the North- such as wildlife and tourism. Human Wildlife Confl west Efforts are underway through various initiatives to expand this practise to other By Gary Nek o ngo o s t communal areas, private land and parks. Fie ld O ffice r , Etosha Ske leton C a However, in more densely populated areas such as Caprivi Region, planned grazing and herding needs to be combined with localised land-use ys em The Eve n B t ook Monito ring S t planning and infrastructure development to system th at is us ed i n This is a local -level monitoring facilitate settlement and cropping that ord major v e ents and communal conser v ec ancies to r enables the most effective use of land over the c Form s are p com leted n dents that occur c er in ons van ies. long term. This should secure grazing areas, i ci n a range of and enable the establishment of wildlife in user-f r iendly files tha t collect data o s, rainfall, predat o r corridors and grazing buffer areas around in d icators, l d u er inc uding wil life n mb parks. h sigtingsand veld conditions. en collected by Over the years , a goo d s ample of data has be to use this to nmo it or conserva n cies. We can start now trends. ident o k Monitoring st Sy em A similar system know e c B oas th In has been introduc ed ntoi parks. arenes - d to as sist conservanci ines a w s Data is being us e re raisi ng among th r eimember durings peak seasons whe ccur . This h elps prepare human wi ldl i fe o conflict is likely t o re . an d apply pos sible mitigation meas u s

Holistic Rangeland M an a gement vancies in the orth-west hav e started Many c ons er n t R M) pa rti patci i ng in e th Holistic Rangeland Managemen (H unene Project . programme p ee ion red by INRD C- K ove me nt in the veld ere has been i a s gnificant impr Th en introduced an d conditions wh er thee rprog mm h e a e as b p s d ropped Above applied. L ive tocks losses to redator have Caprivi Stakeholders talking to Erora Grazing Area ogrammes, calving time is significantly. Through these p r farmers and herders in Kunene Region. acks on l vestock synchronized n a d makes predat o t i r at difficult. Chili pepper deter elephants © Linda Baker By Gary Nekongo and Linda Baker SPAN

Elephants hate chili peppers. Elephants don't like capsaicin, the chemical in chilies that makes them hot. This knowledge has led to its use in several African countries as an elephant deterrent, and has been piloted in Caprivi Region. Dried chilies' are shaped into chili briquettes - sometimes called chili bombs - which are roughly the size of an average sweet melon. The recipe for these is simple - two handfuls of crushed, dried chilies mixed with three handfuls of elephant dung and small amounts of water. They are then left to dry for a few days and stored for later use. When elephants approach fields, briquettes are lit and left to smoulder. The smoke results in a burning sensation in elephants' eyes. Mucous membranes in trunks are 100 times more sensitive than those of humans, causing real short-term discomfort.

Crushed dried chilies are sometimes mixed with grease and smeared on cloths, which are placed like flags around fields.

Highly intelligent, elephants become habituated to traditional deterrent methods such as banging drums, cracking whips and lighting fires. Some have also become accustomed to gunshots fired overhead by conservancy game guards and Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) officials. But so far, they have not become habituated to the chili smoke.

Chilies are now also being used as a deterrent in the north central and north western regions of Namibia.

Sandpaper 11 By Midori Paxton SPAN Project Coordinator Park Interpretive Materials Brochure and Fact Sheet Series

“True or false?” areas through tourism. And the protected area (PA) system also does something else: it makes “At Sossusvlei, where the dunes tower to people happy. almost unimaginable heights, and no matter how hard the wind blows, the angle of sand Tourism directly and indirectly brought in dunes can never be more than 32 degrees?” N$6.6 billon in Namibia in 2006, accounting for 14.2% of the GDP, and for nearly 19 percent of This question was posed by The Minister of the jobs in the country. Tourism activities in Environment and Tourism, Hon Netumbo Namibia are primarily based on the country's Nandi-Ndaitwah to the audience attending the scenic beauty, its wildlife and its rich cultural official launch of a new series of park diversity. brochures and fact sheets in Windhoek on July 8, 2009. Although many of these attractions are contained in the country's national parks, for a

From Left: Midori Paxton, SPAN Project Coordinator, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitowah, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ginger Mauney, Writer /Editor, and Rieth van Schalkwyk, Managing Director, Venture Publi- cations. Venture publications was commissioned to design and produce the series, with Ms Mauney as a principal writer.

© Sven-Eric Kanzler

Answer: It's true. long time it was difficult to obtain official But for many this is new! information on parks to enhance visitor knowledge and appreciation of each park and How little we know! How much we need to the values each park contains. Nowadays many learn! And how interesting it is to learn! visitors are more discerning than they used to be. They have questions. They want answers. Information is a powerful sword in the battle They now want to learn more about the places for progress. The more you know the more you they visit, the history, the conservation grow! successes and challenges faced in each park.

In Namibia, we are sitting on a world class The Ministry of Environment and Tourism range of national parks. The parks are a (MET), in conjunction with the SPAN Project, cornerstone for conservation, generate has produced a series of park brochures and wealth, and create jobs and income in rural fact sheets to enhance public knowledge about

Sandpaper 12 parks and to enrich visitor experience in the Namibia Wildlife Resorts Central Reservation national parks. Office, the Gustav Voigts Centre and the Craft Centre in Windhoek. They are also available at The 13 brochures and 22 accompanying fact the Hosea Kutako International Airport and the sheets provide a variety of information about Namib “i” tourist information centre in parks; their history, landscapes, animals, plant Swakopmund. Park specific brochures and life, conservation triumphs and challenges and fact sheets are available at all park offices and an environmental care code to minimise visitor MET regional head offices. impact on ecosystems. Decorated with extremely attractive maps and photographs, The 13th brochure is a 20-page compilation the series is envisaged to provide tools for booklet detailing all of Namibia's national environmental education. parks and is sold commercially through the Friends of Parks Association. An MET Each brochure is accompanied by two fact initiative, Friends of Parks is a consortium of sheets, providing further information for supporters from the business community, visitors and the public on specific and institutions and individuals throughout intriguing aspects of the particular parks. Namibia who support our parks and want to Featured are interesting and quirky safeguard our national heritage. information bites, such as Nile crocodile life histories in Mamili National Park (NP), “Water “Lodges, tour operators and others can birds and seasonal flooding”, “People and become part of the Friends of Parks initiative wildlife a shared history” (Bwabwata NP), by purchasing booklets to give to clients or sell Elephant “the most abundant and potentially in their shops and outlets,” said the Hon most lethal animal encountered in the park” Minister at the launch. (Khaudum NP); “What are horses doing here?” and “They're back and black!” - rhino “Park visitors can also become Friends of Parks reintroduction (Namib Naukluft NP); “Wacky by purchasing this booklet thereby water-wise adaptations” (Sossusvlei's dune contributing to the continued production of community) and Hiking in the Fish River Canyon this stunning series and to other park (/Ai-/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park). management activities.”

Twelve of the park brochures are available free Materials can be downloaded from the MET's of charge at the MET's Head Offices, the website (www.met.gov.na). Namibia Tourism Board Head Offices, the

Ben's Briefcase continued from Pg 1 true that he was killed by a Trophy Hunter. I encounters before. Then there is a flash, and can, however, imagine the scenario in real life: he feels the punch to his chest simultaneously The old lion is resting in the shadow of a low with the dreaded roar of the weapon he fears bush. He is fortunate to have killed a warthog most. And he realises that he must flee, but he at the water the previous evening. His body is cannot breath, and his muscles fail to respond, aching from the fight he had had with the and he barely manages to utter one last defiant young male a week ago when he lost the last roar before his big, scraggy head falls forward female of his pride to the victor. He lifts his to rest between his forelegs, one which is bent head to investigate the slight noise that at a strange angle from the old wound that disturbed him, realising too late that the gave him his name. female is not there to warn him. He recognises the human forms standing thirty yards away, This story is about my first experience with and is at first, not concerned, because the Human - Wildlife Conflict. Why is “Human” foremost has the slight build of a Ju/'hoansi, mentioned first? Is it only because the topic is with which he has had many friendly in alphabetical order? 1 Sandpaper 13 Mangetti National Waking up a

In early March 2008 I entered Mangetti Game only had water for a few months a year and the Camp for the first time through a squeaking northern Olifantskrip borehole had ceased to old rusty gate, held together by a twisted function. wire and a heavy chain. I knew that many things would have to happen if I stopped my car and gazed along the western Mangetti was to become a National Park, fence line, taking note of the elephant generating benefits to rural communities and breakages in the fence just a hundred metres protecting wildlife and vegetation. from the gate. Elephants obviously don't bother to use the entrance door, I thought. Our Project, Enhancing Wildlife-based Economy Especially not when they see delicious in Rural Areas (EWERAP), supported through mahangu crops- the livelihood of Mangetti's Namibia's Rural Poverty Reduction Programme human neighbours - in fields adjacent to the and funded by the European Union, aimed at park fence! kick-starting the development of Mangetti by building up basic park infra-structure (fences, Poles and droppers along the game-proof waterpoints and the park entrance) and boosting fence were also in poor condition due to potential for tourism development. uncontrolled bush fires and termite attacks. Some were covered by vines and bushes, The proclamation of Mangetti National Park in giving the site an eerie, abandoned feel. September 2008 and the subsequent launch and Below Left: signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between Wildebeest supplement their Mathias Kavetho, Mangetti Game Camp's the Ukwangali Traditional Authority, the diet by licking salt in Mangetti Principal Ranger, arrived in his old 2x4 UNTAG Kavango Regional Council and the Ministry of National Park. vehicle that has miraculously survived more Environment and Tourism on December 3, paved than 456 kilometres of travel. I wondered the way for further development of the area. Below Right: New Mangetti National Park how he negotiated the deep Kalahari sand Following strict European Community entrance . when on patrol in the nearly 420 square procurement rules, contractors for the kilometer reserve. execution of civil works in Mangetti National

© Andre Baumgarten © Andre Baumgarten

Park were identified and appointed after a Traveling through the dense and lush green rigorous and open public tender process. Civil Kalahari woodlands, we visited the park's works started in May 2009 and were finalised artificial water-points: Middle Dam, Boma three months later. and Drink Zebra Pan, all of which dry out after the rainy season if rangers do not activate the As part of the infrastructure development noisy old Lister-engine pumps during their EWERAP rehabilitated 30 km of fence line of the patrols. Park's western game proof fence, including vermin-proofing of the fence. The scenic natural Middle Pan, about six kilometres east of the artificial water point, The park entrance - Mangetti's new face -

Sandpaper 14 By André Baumgarten, Park EWERAP Project Manager, DPWM sleeping beauty

includes an office, accommodation for park staff, improving park management and enabling staff, visitor's toilets, and allows controlled the control of poaching and human-wildlife access to the park through the entrance gate. conflict. Three waterpoints were developed within the park. Each of these is fitted with solar panels Finally, during this initial rebuilding of Mangetti's complete with solar tracking systems and infrastructure, more than 100 local men and surrounded by elephant-proof protection women were provided with temporary walls. Under this contract the Middle Dam employment. borehole and the Olifantskrip were rehabilitated, and a new borehole was drilled The costs for the development of Mangetti at Middle Pan to provide perennial water National Park covered by EWERAP over 18 supply to wildlife in this area. months totaled more than N$7,1 million. This initial investment has laid the groundwork for Parallel to the infrastructure development the development of tourism concessions to the the Ministry and EWERAP translocated 513 private sector, while also providing training and animals to the park, boosting Mangetti's pre- permanent employment opportunities for local existing wildlife resources. African Wildlife people in the tourism sector. The tourism tender Services secured the contract for this service concession process for the development of a and sourced 200 impala, 75 kudu and 120 oryx tourism concession began in August this year. from the private sector, while 118 animals (18 Main Picture: giraffe and 100 Burchell's zebra) were Entering the Park through the impressive, Kalahari woodlands. donated from Etosha National Park to silently sliding gate at Mangetti 's new entrance Below Left: Mangetti. and driving along the impeccable fence line to Rehabilitated waterhole at the new waterholes that now teem with wildlife, Olifantskrip, Mangetti National The procurement of two 4 x 4 heavy duty I imagine the promising future of Mangetti as a Park. vehicles was an additional investment National Park supporting both the livelihoods of Below right: enabling effective patrolling of the park by humans and the preservation of wildlife. New borehole at Middle Pan, Mangetti National Park.

© Andre Baumgarten © Andre Baumgarten

MANGETTI NATIONAL PARK

Situated in the north eastern Kalahari Woodlands about 100 km southwest of Rundu, Mangetti National Park lines the eastern side of B 8-Route through the Kavango Region. The almost 420 km² large conservation area is known for its typical savanna landscape and hosts a variety of large mammal species such as elephant, kudu, giraffe, the rare sable antelope, blue wildebeest, oryx, kudu and small ungulate species such as duiker and steenbok.

The park is particularly known for its strong population of eland antelopes, the largest of all African antelope species. Predators such as leopard and hyena are common and the extremely rare and endangered wild dog can be seen in the park.

Sandpaper 15 Warden Profile Eliaser Naftali

Warden: Khorixas

By Linda Baker, SPAN Communication and Partnership Development Officer

© Leeverty Muyoba

Above: “Elephants are smart. If you chase one away, “We want to find out what is causing them to Eliaser Naftali, Warden they will remember that you were in, say, a become more aggressive,” he states. Theories Khorixas. white car, and after that they will dislike white cited in the region range from uncontrolled cars. They have learnt to unpack rocks around tourism in restricted areas to donkey carts waterpoints so that they can access water.” active at night.

As Warden in the Khorixas area since January In his search for answers, he proactively uses 2006, Eliaser Naftali, 32, has had his job cut out the knowledge he learnt during his in-service for him. He is responsible for conservation training in Etosha National Park from legendary activities in Kunene south, from Skeleton Coast tracker, “Ou Jan” Tsumib. He adds that Scout, Park to the west, along the veterinary fence or Willem Kubeb, was also influential in his 'red line' to the border south of Etosha National training. Park and to the Ugab River in the south. “We slept in the veld without tents, with lions Since the 1980s, the region has witnessed a and hyenas calling around us. This prepared me steady increase in wildlife numbers, thanks to for my work here. the excellent extension work from Ministry of Environment and Tourism, local NGOs and the “Together with Gabes Shatumbu (now a success of the acclaimed Community-based Warden at the Etosha Ecological Institute), we Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) followed elephant and lion on foot. Programme. “In the past, vehicle patrols While communities have were conducted in this area. seen some benefits, notably "I was really I introduced Jan's teachings, through tourism, human as some areas are not wildlife conflict has accessible by vehicle. So we increased due to the fortunate to have go in on foot. This has been population growth and hugely successful." geographic spread of learnt from elephant, cheetah, leopard, Naftali explains how he and lion and hyaena. the best" his team recently walked 20 km in rough, mountainous And its Naftali's job to terrain after some ensure there is peace in the elephants. The animals got region between humans and animals. the message and left the farm for some months. Firstly, there are the elephants. He notes they move according to the seasons and availability “I got practical experience in Etosha and I was of vegetation and water. The main conflict really fortunate to have learnt from the best, comes through the destruction of fences and not only in terms of approaching certain water installations. animals but in how to be disciplined.

Like many others, Naftali is concerned that the “I believe that talking and sharing with Kunene Region's elephants are becoming more farmers and residents is important. I explain aggressive. In little more than a year, four how to deal with an elephant when people see people have lost their lives to elephants in the it,” he tells Sandpaper. North West.

Sandpaper 16 Naftali's advice when coming across an Naftali completes the procedures for declaring elephant: Don't harass it. If it is standing at a an animal as a problem-causing animal. “Most Naftali's waterpoint, leave it. Check the wind and be of the time, we try and talk through the Wish List: downwind of it so it can't smell you. When they situation and ask the farmers what they see as can smell you but can't see you, they get viable solutions, bearing in mind that animals agitated, especially the harems with young. are part of nature and have existed ever since •Improved admin- humans and wildlife came into contact.” istrative system for It's clear that Naftali is a field man. the Directorate of “Conservation is not at the office. You only Although some species have returned to areas Parks and Wildlife need to be there to compile reports. Talking to for the first time in 50 years, Naftali believes communities and strengthening relationships there is increased tolerance of wildlife. • Uniforms for all staff, takes place in the field,” he states. on an annual basis Through extension, people are coming to terms He spent more years than most in the veld with sometimes problematic animals, and are herding cattle, but his meteoric rise from looking for viable solutions to living with them. • Conservancies should cattle-herder to academic makes him a strong be running affairs role model. He has noted that rocks packed loosely around independently, with waterpoints are unpopular with elephants. the majority of their His school career is remarkable. Born in Cable fences in Etosha have proved successful members receiving Windhoek in 1977, Naftali completed Grade I. as elephants can't jump. Chilis are being benefits. This will But all his school certificates were lost when he trialled in various areas in the Region. motivate people to moved to the north to live with his conserve grandmother. The nearest school was 20 km “We need to search for better farming away, so he spent his time herding cattle, practices and ways to protect water pipes and watching the Guinea fowl, francolin and installations. In the north west, elephants • The introduction of occasional springbok. mainly damage water pipes. If we can come up an HWC radio pro- with ways to protect the pipes, it would help. gramme in local He eventually restarted Grade 1 aged 14. He languages, giving tips skipped three grades in all, and studied his “Although chasing elephants is an option, on reducing HWC and final grades while working as a security guard where does one chase them to? When I get back giving info on the at the Italian Embassy in Windhoek and around to the office, I just get another call from environment the corner from the current Ministry of someone else requesting me to chase them Environment and Tourism offices in the from their area.” • Programmes within Northern Industrial Area. “There is no easy solution to human wildlife MET to motivate When asked why he chose to study conser- conflict. It started a long time back, and best staff, revisit objec- vation, Naftali retorted: “I am in conservation resembles a flowing river, with new water tives and remind because I am part of nature. I didn't choose to being added every day. We need different them of our achieve- be a conservationist, nature chose me. If I had approaches for different areas, and we need to ments. They should a choice, I wouldn't work in any other field. If keep refining those approaches. also retrigger a you are in this field and don't have the passion passion in conser- for it, you will never succeed.” "Communities and the MET need to be vation among staff adaptable, and need to meet each other and remind them After gaining a place in Nature Conservation at halfway." the Polytechnic of Namibia, the humble cattle- why they chose to herder showed his mettle by scooping the top work in the sector. student award in his final year in 2005. • Change attitudes of He is currently studying part time for a Masters staff to realise that degree in Environmental Management through salaries are a reward a South African university. for hard work and a job well done Back in the field, he has noted a steady increase in cheetah numbers in the area. “If you drive from Khorixas to Torra Conservancy, you can sometimes see up to 18 cheetahs. This is great for tourism but not for livestock. In ≠Khoadi //Hôas, cheetahs have killed about 300 goats. One man lost about 40 goats to cheetah.

West of there, in Torra Conservancy, he says donkeys and cattle are falling prey to lions. Right: Warden Eliaser Naftali “People are asking us for compensation. They (seated - second from right) come to our office and say they have lost 20 poses with MET and con- goats, what are you going to do? servancy members, during the rhino translocation for “It's the hardest thing, to see their faces after ≠ Khoadi //Hoas Con- they have lost livestock. People come to me servancy, in September 2007. and say: 'Young man, you tell us what are we going to do'. I share the same pain. Animals are also part of us. ”

Sandpaper 17 SandpaperSandpaper 18 12 Sandpaper 19 Park Profile Mudumu National

© Simon Mayes

Introduction Biodiversity Mudumu National Park is one of Namibia's Mudumu is home to a large elephant population. least known parks, but is richly rewarding for The park acts as a stepping stone for these adventurous visitors. pachyderms as they migrate between Botswana, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe, and being Proclaimed a week before Namibia gained unfenced ensures that their journey takes place Independence in 1990, along with its sister unhindered. See the map opposite showing park, Mamili, Mudumu's main attraction is the elephant movements in Caprivi from April 2007 riverine habitat of the Kwando River as it clearly indicating the importance of the Mudumu meanders its way from the Angolan highlands NP in terms of transboundary movement. into the Chobe River. The park measures 1,010 km². Other members of the big five found in Mudumu are buffalo, lion and leopard. Other predators Accommodation ranges from rugged include spotted hyenas, cheetah and wild dogs - campsites with virtually no facilities, to a bonanza for tourists but a serious concern for luxurious lodges, but much of the park is wild neighbours due to the human wildlife conflict and ready to explore. To get there, turn off resulting from their activities when they spill out the Trans-Caprivi Highway (B8) onto the of the park in search of easy prey. D3511 after the Kongola Bridge and drive about 40 kilometers southwards. There is no Hippos and crocodiles abound in the river and formal entrance gate or park fence - the park backwaters. Look out for spotted-necked otters is separated from neighbouring communal and shy riverine animals such as the rare farmland by a graded cutline. sitatunga. Red lechwe are found in swampy areas, while common impala prefer the forested Take note of signs indicating the need for 4 x 4 areas, along with Burchell's zebra, a growing vehicles, and, if you intend to travel inland, sable antelope population, eland, wildebeest the MET recommends traveling in two and giraffe. vehicles during the rainy season. Tiger fish and tilapia are common fish species, while reptiles include various snake species, luguaans (monitor lizards) and tortoises (Kalahari Tent and Speke's Hinged).

The park offers some of the best birding in the Above: country, with 430 species recorded, this includes Rare Wattled Cranes in the Namibia's national bird, the fish eagle, African Mudumu Nationl Park. skimmers and western-banded snake eagle. In stark contrast to much of the country's desert Right: landscapes, Mudumu consists of sweeping The study of the movement woodlands, characterized by towering mopane and disease status of African trees ( Colophospermum mopane) and leadwood buffalo in a transfrontier conservation area in Caprivi trees, (Combretum imberbe). was initiated in September 2007. The map shows the The Mudumu Mulapo fossilized river course and movement of buffalo from the dense mopane woodland are other major November 07 to May 08. attractions. Some of the best examples of Note the movements in mature and intact mopane vegetation in the Mamili, Mudumu and Caprivi can be found in the Mudumu NP. Bwabwata National Parks. Transboundary movement of collared buffalo

Sandpaper 20 Park

By Simon Mayes, SPAN Field Coordinator, BMM Parks

Tourism Activities Fires For the adventurous, there is an unfenced Fire is an important management tool but at the Above: campsite without facilities on a backwater at same time can be a very destructive force if it is Some of the translocated the Nakatwa Camp in the Park. Visitors must applied in the wrong way. Much of the Caprivi wildebeest in the park. provide their own water, food and fuel. burns each year. The fires tend to start when Concessions have been granted for two community members are preparing their fields Above Right: privately managed lodges within the park, for cultivation. Old stubble, weeds, etc., are Map indicating elephant which are among some of the most luxurious burned off in the late dry season in preparation movements along the in the country. There is also a growing for the rains. These fires are often the cause of Kwando River, showing the number of accommodation facilities in the destructive hot season fires which occur importance of Mudumu National Park in terms of conservancies adjacent to the park. Several from September onwards. The approach in the transboundry movement. lodges in the area have established joint parks has been to initiate an early burning ventures with local conservancies, while programme, cooler burns during the winter three community campsites are situated months (May-July). These fires are used to within driving distance from the park for day create fire breaks for the hot season fires. They drives. also tend to burn in a mosaic fashion, i.e. some areas burn while others don't, and they burn out Activities within the park include walking, at night when the temperature drops. This bird watching and game viewing, while proactive approach has resulted in less late Fact File: lodges offer a variety of activities including season destructive fires in the hot months and Proclamation date: night drives and river rides. Outside the park provides a “green bite” for important wildlife 1 March 1990 a traditional village is situated at Lizauli. The species like roan and sable antelope during the Mashi Crafts Centre at Kongola is a must winter months. Rainfall: while visitors should also consider a visit to Average annual rainfall is Mamili National Park. HWC between 550 mm and 700 With the increases of wildlife in the area the mm per year, with the Entry permits for Mudumu are obtainable at human-animal interactions have also increased. peak rainy period in the MET offices in Katima Mulilo and These interactions are generally negative with January and February. Windhoek or from the offices at Susuwe in people's livelihoods and sometimes lives lost. Bwabwata National Park and Nakatwa at Any goodwill people have towards wildlife is Vegetation type: Mudumu National Park. generally lost as a result of human wildlife Caprivi floodplain and conflict. Various mitigation measures are in use, associated Kwando river KEY CONCERNS for instance the use of chili to deter elephants grasslands, riparian and kraaling animals at night to prevent losses woodlands, Mopane Poaching through predators. A local NGO, IRDNC, in woodlands and the Although the park is surrounded by partnership with the conservancies, has Terminalia sericiea conservancies, poaching will remain a threat initiated an insurance scheme whereby under dominated woodland of for as long as poor people live near the parks. certain conditions, people can be compensated the Mudumu Mulapo Anti-poaching patrols are conducted by parks for their livestock losses. staff each month and these keep poaching Travel advisory: levels down to a minimum. Conservancy Collaborative Management Structures Mudumu National Park is game guards outside the park contribute by Over the past years relations between the parks located within a high-risk patrolling the area outside the park. The in Caprivi and the surrounding conservancies malaria area. Precautions establishment of collaborative management have developed to such an extent that formal are necessary. forums in these areas has also assisted in collaborative management forums have keeping poaching levels down, both within developed. These have evolved from the need to and outside the park. manage common resources across unfenced park and conservancy boundaries. It also makes sense to “combine forces” when the same

Sandpaper 21 activities are been undertaken on either side very little control of people entering the park of a boundary. For instance parks, along the main road. conservancies and community forests are working together on law enforcement, fire In terms of future tourism developments, management (early burning), monitoring and upper/mid-market and medium density translocations. products are envisaged for the Mudumu NP. An existing concession, Lianshulu, exists in the Future Developments park. This concession was granted before the Effective management of the north east parks park was proclaimed hence its existence within will ensure the conservation of important the park. A further upper/mid market habitats, safe guard corridors for regional concession is envisaged around the present wildlife migration, through tourism provide Nakatwa ranger station. As mentioned above, economic growth, and provide access to this site will be vacated by the MET and this natural areas for local, regional and presents an opportunity to redevelop and international visitors. Mudumu NP has a optimize the economic potential of this site into specific role to fill in the achievement of a high value photographic concession. these objectives. At least four exclusive campsite developments The BMM Parks project funded by KfW will be are proposed for the park. Sites at Mvubu, developing management infrastructure in the Balyerwa, Hippo Pool, Maziba and possibly other park. The Ngenda ranger station situated on designated sites in the eastern woodlands have the northern boundary on the main road, will been identified. The primary rationale for this be developed into park headquarters, gate concession is to provide continued affordable entry and a visitor centre. The existing public access and accommodation in Mudumu. Nakatwa ranger station will be closed and This is part of a larger commitment to ensure the staff relocated to Ngenda. This move will also general public reasonably priced access to the facilitate better gate access control. At BMM Parks. present with the office at Nakatwa, there is

Warden’s Voice Vincent Malima: Warden Mudumu and Mamili National Parks

My first impression of the Mudumu National Park, when I started working here in April this year, has more to do with the Incident Book Monitoring System. We are very fortunate to have such a system as we are able to use it address our weaknesses and thereby put more effort into areas where there are problems. Every month end we analyse our data and plan our next month's activities based on this analysis. What I have also found interesting is the relationship between the park and its neighbours. The conservancies are eager to work with us and therefore the Mudumu North and South joint management forums are very important to us all. At present we have a very good system of sharing information. The Mudumu NP is the core area for the surrounding conservancies, we therefore rely on each other for good neighbourliness. Sandpaper 22 By Michael Sibalatani Chief Control Warden Skeleton Coast Park, DPWM Etosha Rhino of CrimeScene Training

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) exam, so even though I was looking forward to successfully held the second Rhino Scene of this course I was not too impressed about being Crime Course at Okaukuejo, Etosha National forced into school-style examinations again! Park from June 7 to 14. The course was After all, I did not have to study or write an facilitated by Rod Potter and Wayne Evans from exam since my B-Tech in 2002 and I was not Ezemvelo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife. convinced that my ageing brain was still up to studying! The facilitators have offered similar courses in several southern and eastern African countries “Anyhow, it soon turned out that despite one as well as in Asia. Sixteen staff members from exam per chapter (we did 12 chapters), plus the MET and four from the Police attended the writing a statement and doing a practical for course. All participants are directly involved marks, this kind of test was actually not tasking with the conservation of rhinos and elephant my brain too much seeing that the tests were populations in the country. open-book, mostly multiple-choice, and were written right after doing the chapter. After Michael Sibalatani, Chief Control Warden for three days of lectures and night-time Etosha and Skeleton Coast Park, who is also a homework I felt like burning out though, which member of the SADC Rhino and Elephant Security Group (RESG), arranged the course. The training was identified by the RESG as an action for rhino range states to curb the increasing poach- ing in southern Africa.

At the end of August, the number of rhino killed in KZN so far this year was 19, the Ezemvelo KZN website stated. In September, the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica an- nounced that since January this year, 84 white rhinos have been killed by poachers in Namibia. can perhaps be attributed to my hectic work Funding for the training at Okaukuejo was schedule since the beginning of the year. obtained from WWF African Rhino Programme, However, unaware of this, the presenters Integrated Community-based Ecosystem carried on bombarding us with information! Management (ICEMA), Strengthening the Luckily we went out for the practical work on Protected Area Network (SPAN), the Ministry of day four, which gave me a chance to breathe. Environment and Tourism and the Ministry of Then the last day came and it felt strange yet Safety and Security. rewarding to be finished and to have a certificate in hand…

Chief Warden Birgit Kötting summarised the “This is probably the most important and course as follows: “Eight days of extremely applicable course in my line of work I have interesting forensic information, action, and attended since joining MET, and I can highly brain-frying - this is one way to describe the recommend it. A big thank you to the course! organizers, sponsors and course presenters I am very grateful that there are still people out “I had just come from a course the week there who care enough to make a difference!” before, a course that also required writing an

Sandpaper 23 Staff make Namibian Parks shine

By Linda Baker SPAN Communication and Partnership Development Officer Photos By Dr Christian Goltz

Namibia's park staff contribute significantly to equipment, persevere to ensure that our our Protected areas being among the best in Protected Areas and wildlife remain among the Africa. best in Africa”.

Below: Left: This was the clear message from both the She commended Etosha staff for fighting raging The Hon. Minister presents the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon fires throughout the night and rescuing tourists Lifetime Achievement Award Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and the Deputy who were lost while travelling off the roads. to retired Principal Ranger Resident Representative of the United Nations North eastern areas staff were applauded for Chrispin Chezabulyo. Development Programme (UNDP), at the MET's their work in apprehending heavily-armed Third Field Staff Awards Ceremony which took poachers, assisting with cases of human Below Right: place at a Windhoek hotel on 14 September. wildlife conflict and aiding stranded wildlife MET's finest … posing with their during floods. award certificates are (from left): Riaan Solomon, Warden, The event coincided with the National Namib-Naukluft Park, Conference on the Implementation of the North western staff were praised for efforts to (Springbok Award Winner) Policy on Human Wildlife Conflict Manage- monitor black rhino in partnership with Director of Parks and Wildlife ment. conservancies, communities and NGOs. She Management Ben Beytell, said Namib-Naukluft and coastal staff “led by Warden Vincent Mwalima of Since its inception during the centenary year of example in their work in implementing Mudumu National Park Etosha National Park and the Namib Naukluft environmental impact assessments in mining (Incident Book Award), retired Park in 2007, the Awards have attracted an areas” while she said Southern staff had Principal Ranger Chrispin Chezabulyo, Caprivi Region increasing number of nominations from all “rallied together to host nine countries in (Lifetime Achievement corners of Namibia. Oranjemund recently for the Boundless Award), Hon Minister Netumbo Southern Africa route that promotes Nandi-Ndaitwah, Samuel “These awards serve to recognise those who go Transfrontier conservation initiatives in the Thomas, second runner-up, beyond the call of duty,” Hon Netumbo Nandi- region”. Springbok award, Chief Ndaitwah told an audience of about 300 Warden of the Sperrgbiet people. “For our award winners, conservation “Throughout the country, as we have heard National Park, Trygve Cooper is a way of life. It is their calling. It is not just an during today's proceedings, human wildlife (Welwitschia Award) and Ranger Paulus Johannes of eight to five job.” conflict is escalating and our staff are Sperrgebiet National Park increasingly challenged to work hand in hand (Incident Book Award and first In her speech, the Hon Minster paid tribute to with communities, often with inadequate runner-up, Springbok Award). field staff throughout the country who, “in equipment, particularly vehicles, to mitigate challenging conditions, and often with limited conflict.”

Sandpaper 24 She outlined progress made in terms of “Behind that achievement are dedicated, Government efforts to increase the hard-working and motivated men and women, Development Budget to meet the needs of the who are passionate and believe in conservation public and to care for staff. and development.”

Delivering a speech on behalf of Lebogang She commended the MET on initiating the M o t l a n a , U N D P D e p u t y R e s i d e n t awards scheme and recognising the efforts Representative, Martha Mwandingi, Assistant involved in protected area management. Resident Representative and Head (Environment) said Namibia occupied a “Incentive schemes improve staff morale and prominent position in Africa in the overall institutional performance gains by management of protected areas and motivating staff to work harder and improve conservation of biodiversity. the efficiency and effectiveness of individuals, teams and the entire institution,” she stated.

She believed that individuals who had demonstrated outstanding protected area leadership qualities and who had maintained high standards of performance and dedication, enthusiasm and passion 'made Namibia shine'.

Above Left: The Hon. Minister makes the key note speech, as Erica Akuenye, Deputy Permanent Secretary and Simeon N. Negumbo, Under Secretary listen.

Above: Director of Parks and Wildlife Management Ben Beytell talks about the old days with MET's Cletius Maketo, the Hon. Minister, Martha Mwandingi and Romie Nghiulikwa of UNDP.

Left: Trygve Cooper, winner of the Welwitschia Award, shares a story around the fire after the Award ceremony.

Sandpaper 25 The winners The Lifetime Achievement Award

This is the most prestigious award. It is presented to a long- term service member of the MET, either currently in service or retired, in recognition of his or her demonstrated dedication to the work of the MET and to conservation in general.

Winner: Chrispin Chizabulyo, Retired Principal Ranger, Caprivi Region

About Chrispin: Affectionately known as the “Father of conservation in Caprivi”, this humble Principal Ranger worked in the Caprivi Region during a period of transition, paving the way for a new generation of conservationists, and helped transform the old Department responsible for heavy-handed law enforcement into a Ministry that is today a proud service institution.

Chizabulyo devoted more than 30 years of his life to the Ministry. He joined the ranks of conservation on February 20, 1973, in a time when war was rife; poaching was on the increase and wildlife species in the region were on the decline. During the 1980s he worked as a game guard and was promoted to the rank of Ranger in 1983, then senior ranger in 1985.

In 1986 he was transferred from Katima Mulilo to Mudumu National Park. He was promoted to the rank of Principal Ranger in 1990 and moved to Mamili National Park, where he worked until 1997, when he returned to Katima Regional Services until his retirement in 2004.

Although an exceptional worker, a lack of educational qualifications prevented him from further promotion. However, his familiarity with the newly proclaimed Mamili and Mudumu national parks was unparalleled, and his willingness to transfer this knowledge to younger colleagues, often of higher ranks than his own, is legendary.

Foot patrols were a way of life for Chizabulyo, through rough terrain, through areas teeming with elephants, lions, hyenas, hippos and crocodiles, tracking poachers who were numerous prior to the introduction of conservancy Incident Book Award legislation. (joint winners) He also had a deep knowledge of the local people, traditions Winner 1: Mudumu National Park and culture, which he happily shared with colleagues Warden: Vincent Mwilima unfamiliar with the area. Field Staff: Matambo Singulangwa, Fabian Kangumu, Booysen Sinvula, Gift Simataa, Benefactor Upon his retirement, former colleagues from throughout the Salushando country travelled at their own expense to attend his retirement party and pay homage to this exemplary field Winner 2: Sperrgebiet National Park (Oranjemund) worker, renowned for his anti-poaching, community liaison, Warden: K. Shilongo wildlife patrols, problem-causing animal control work and Ranger: P. Johannes staff training activities.

The Incident Book Monitoring System (IBMS) was introduced Chizabulyo has dedicated his life to conservation in Namibia, in Namibia's North-east parks from 2003 to collect data on a never expecting a reward for it, happy in the knowledge that variety of events, activities and statistics. The System he is serving his calling, his country and God almighty. We includes the monitoring of items such as gate statistics, salute an exemplary field man and it is our honour to award patrol effort, poaching statistics, off-takes (hunting, culling him with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. and mortalities), rainfall and veld conditions. It aims to Above: Top: provide basic information across a wide variety of topics so “The Father of Conservation in Caprivi” Chrispin Chezabulyo, accepts the that local management is in a position to apply adaptive Lifetime Achievement Award from Hon Nandi-Ndaitwah. Chezabulyo, who retired in 2004, mentored many of today's leading conservationists, and was management on the basis of solid data. The System is also particularly active in anti-poaching work, walking patrols, wildlife designed to assist park wardens to report to Head Quarters on monitoring and liaison with traditional authorities. a monthly basis and, most importantly, to evaluate the Middle: Warden for Mudumu National Park, Vincent Mwilima, accepts the performance of their field staff. Incident Book Award from Hon Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah. This year's prize was jointly awarded to Mudumu and Sperrgebiet National Parks. Looking on are UNDP's Martha Mwandingi and Deputy Director of Parks and Wildlife To date, the System has been introduced in 11 parks. Incident Management in MET, Colgar Sikopo. Book implementation is audited yearly. Bottom: Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Netumbo Nandi- Ndaitwah, hands the Incident Book Award certificate to Paulus Johannes of Sandpaper 26 Sperrgebiet National Park. The Sperrgebiet team were joint winners with Mudumu National Park in Caprivi Region. Paulus Johannes was also first runner-up in the Springbok Award category. The Welwitschia Award

This is a special award to a MET field staff member who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities, shows a great work ethic and typifies someone who is innovative in his or her approach to park management. The Springbok Award Winner: Trygve Cooper, Chief Warden for the Sperrgebiet National Park This recognises the outstanding performance of a young MET field staff member who demonstrates great potential to About Trygve: succeed in the field of conservation, park management and After working as a Ranger in South Africa, Cooper was special outreach services. appointed as a Nature Conservator at Möwe Bay, Skeleton Coast Park in January 1978. From March 1981 he served as a Winner: Riaan Solomon: Warden, Ganab, Senior Nature Conservator in Etosha National Park. Namib-Naukluft Park First Runner Up: Paulus Johannes, Ranger, From January 1984 Cooper served as a Senior Warden at Oranjemund, Sperrgebiet National Waterberg Plateau Park, where he carried out horseback Park patrols, game capture, rhino dehorning, burning programmes and rare and endangered species management. Second Runner Up: Samuel Thomas, Workhand, He also built a vulture hide and a series of horse camps, vista Otjovasandu, Etosha National Park points, game-viewing hides, an unguided hiking trail and four wilderness trail camps. About Riaan: “Solomon was thrown into the deep end when he arrived in In June 2000 Cooper moved to Lüderitz and in 2001 was the Park,” says Chief Control Warden, Manie le Roux. The appointed Chief Warden, responsible for what was to become post entailed overseeing the cleaning and management of 52 the Sperrgebiet National Park. He moved to his current campsites in the 1.2 million hectare park, conducting regular station in Oranjemund in January 2006. tourist and anti-poaching patrols, maintaining park fences, supervising staff and managing nine mining and prospecting Within a short period of time, he was familiar with the names concessions which is a new development in the park. of most of the endemic vegetation, set to work on establishing a series of base camps, and coordinated the Solomon and his staff have worked proactively in the face of groundwork for the establishment of the Sperrgebiet budget restrictions and equipment shortages. When faced National Park. with an office in need of renovations and no budget for repairs, Solomon sourced funding from the Strengthening the Cooper has a lifelong passion for wilderness, having attended Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project for paint, rallied his the Wilderness Leadership School in 1967. He has given staff, rolled up his sleeves and together they painted their presentations at two World Wilderness Congresses (in India own office. and in Port Elizabeth), completed the Line Officers Course in Wilderness Stewardship in Montana, USA, and also the He also led his team to build a new walkway at the Cape Cross Namibia-US Presidential Fellows Programme specialising in Seal Reserve, one of Namibia's most visited tourist Wildlife Management, Parks and Tourism in the USA. attractions. Using recycled plastic materials, staff constructed a 200 metre walkway which allows visitors a view “He is truly an inspiring conservator, wilderness educator and of the world's largest seal colony. The initiative has been teacher to both youth and adults. His work will be carried warmly welcomed by the tourism industry. from generation to generation for the good of caring for our Mother Earth,” wrote Warden Kosmos Shilongo, who Solomon has shown great aptitude when dealing with the nominated him for this year's award. various mining companies. He received basic training in Environmental Impact Assessments or EIAs, and has worked He has twice been runner-up in the MET's Lifetime long hours to ensure that EIAs for mines in and around the Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to park are strictly adhered to. conservation. Cooper is due to retire in October 2010, after serving 41 years as a park ranger. During the judging stage for this year's Springbok Award, it Above Left: Veteran conservationist and Wilderness guru Trygve Cooper of was felt that Solomon has shown great aptitude, with good, Sperrgebiet National Park accepts the Welwitschia Award from Hon Minister tangible results for the work he performs and excellent Nandi-Ndaitwah. leadership qualities. Above Right: Riaan Solomon, Warden based at Ganab in the Namib-Naukluft Park, accepts the Springbok Award from Hon Minister Nandi-Ndaitwah. Sandpaper 27 Linda Baker SPAN Communication and Partnership Development Officer Des Bartlett, Passing of an iconic filmmaker

In September this year, the world lost one of its Specific to Namibia, Des and Jen made five wildlife documentary legends. Des Bartlett, one-hour films and 13 half hour films while in who passed away in Swakopmund, aged 82, Etosha National Park and a series of five films leaves behind a legacy of films that changed on the Skeleton Coast Park. the rules for nature documentaries, left audiences around the globe spellbound and They won an Emmy award, the Oscar of the proudly placed Namibian parks in the television world, for Survivors of the Skeleton international spotlight. Coast.

Des Bartlett's encyclopaedic knowledge of These all enjoyed prime time screening on US wildlife and his extraordinary patience while and European television networks, placing filming led him to become one of the most Namibia on the map as a tourism destination, successful wildlife cameramen of his while celebrating our biodiversity and praising generation, according to the website Namibia's conservation efforts. WildFilmHistory 100 Years of Wildlife Film Making. They also wrote and illustrated twelve articles for National Geographic (including four cover His partnership with wife, Jen, which spanned stories) as well as other publications. Besides more than half a century, produced more than their films, Des and Jen have penned several 200 films made on six continents. Some went books, including Nature's Paradise, Growing Up on to win world-wide acclaim with Animals and The Flight of the Snow Geese. and prestigious awards. The couple Anyone who had the privilege to work with Des spent most of their was inspired by his fascination with nature, working life 'on from the smallest insect to the largest animal. safari' filming and Des had a passion for life that was infectious, photographing the and was generous in sharing his skills and world's wildlife and knowledge with anyone who took time out to about 30 of those years chat to him. were spent right here, in Namibia. While in Etosha, the couple worked closely with Immanuel Kapofi, Warden at Namutoni. They captured some of celluloid's He told Sandpaper how he spent many hours most magnificent and wondrous talking to Des about filming, cameras, wildlife images, many in our own equipment, wildlife, conservation, and always game parks, notably Etosha looked forward to the couple's visits. National Park and the Skeleton Coast Park. On hearing about Des's death, Gabes Shatumbu, a Warden at Etosha Ecological Who can forget images of Institute who worked closely with the couple, elephants sliding down dunes said: “It is a great pity that we have lost on their knees in the someone who gave us motivation to work hard Skeleton Coast Park? Turtles in the field of conservation in Namibian parks. I emerging from a waterhole hope someone will follow in his footsteps. May to snatch a dove for a his soul rest in peace, and his name, Des quick snack, emaciated Bartlett be always in our memory.” lions succumbing to devastating drought in . the eighties, or The Bartletts chose to live a solitary life in ballerina-like Namibia, based for many years on the ostriches dancing windswept shores of Möwe Bay and later in during intricate Swakopmund. courtship rituals? Born in south-east Queensland, Australia in

Sandpaper 28 1927, Des inherited a love for nature from his possible by rearing father and spent countless hours exploring the orphan geese in the rainforest around his home. Des's early Arctic which regarded ambition was to be a pilot and aircraft Jen and Des as their designer. He left home at 16 to work in a bank parents. “In 1973 it in Brisbane, and, after a brief spell in the RAAF earned Des and Jen the in 1945, soon developed an interest in first of their two photography and documentary film-making. Emmys, this one for cinematography, and In 1952 he got his first big break, and started was forever etched into filming in eastern and central Australia. In 1954 t h e m e m o r i e s o f Des flew to Kenya to join filmmakers Armand wildlife enthusiasts and Michaela Denis, who had signed a contract across the globe. with the BBC to produce a series of programmes for television. The Bartletts traveled to the Patagonia Filming in Africa and On Safari became region of Argentina to extremely popular especially in Britain, with a film whales and other total of 70 half-hour programmes made in wildlife. The film, Africa. Des was based in Kenya for the next 10 Passing of Leviathan, years, travelling all over in search of new film documented the subjects. He also made 104 Animaland plight of the south- children's films. ern right whale. Their two years In 1956 Des married the Australian Jen based in this area Edmondson. Once married they became an included filming inseparable team, with Des focusing on trips to the Falk- cinematography and Jen on stills photography. land Islands and Their daughter Julie was born in Australia in the Antarctic Peninsula. 1957, but the family soon returned to Kenya. They returned to Australia in 1975 and made The couple documented some of the most several films including The Wonderful remarkable moments in conservation history. Kangaroo. In 1978 they finally returned to Africa, planning to spend six months filming Close friend and fellow film-maker, Ginger lions in Namibia. They fell in love with our Mauney, said in a tribute to Des: “In Africa, Des magnificent country and made it their home. filmed the capture of the first orphaned elephant in Tsavo National Park. This elephant Des began to use microlights from which to film was named Sampson, and he was the elephant wildlife in remote locations. Even after a who inspired David and Daphne Sheldricks to serious microlight accident some years ago, his open their animal orphanage. spirits were not dampened. “Never had a headache in my life,” he would exclaim, while “Des and Jen were there when renowned passionately expounding his next plans, such as paleontologists Louis and Mary Leakey efforts to document his adventures and discovered important evidence of early man in observations in a book. Olduvai Gorge in 1959. A large part of Des' success came from his “At Joy and George Adamson's home, Des meticulous planning, and he was also very filmed Elsa, a small cub who would later thorough about documenting every piece of become world famous as the lioness in Born film that he shot, says wildfilmhistory. Free. “In fact, by the year 2000, Des had shot over “Nothing escaped his eye. He filmed okapi two million feet of 16 mm Kodak film, with antelope and pygmies in the Congo, and precise records all the way back to when he left monitor lizards digging out and eating Melbourne in May 1952.” crocodile eggs in Uganda.” Says Mauney: “Des was driven by a sense of Both Des and Jen learnt to fly. They moved to discovery, of capturing rare moments and America in 1964, where they made a series of sharing them. Not only did Des inspire films for Survival Anglia, which took them to television viewers around the world, he every state in the USA, into Canada and inspired another generation of filmmakers and Mexico, filming everything from beavers to in his own humble way, challenged them to do bears, whales to woodpeckers. They also won more, to give more, to protect what they the first of a series of awards. filmed, and to not just film the obvious but to wait for the extraordinary. Just as he and Jen Perhaps their best known film, the one that did together for more than 50 years.” broke the mould of wildlife documentaries at the time, was The Incredible Flight of the Snow Des is survived by his wife Jen, daughter Julie Acknowledgements: Geese. and grandson Tarl. Our heartfelt condolences Jen Bartlett, Ginger to them, as we mourn the passing of a legend. Mauney, Die Republikein, This was the first film in which a camera www.wildfilmhistory.org followed alongside geese in flight, made

Sandpaper 29 How well managed are our protected

Are our protected areas (PAs) well managed? Project, the METT was slightly modified in 2004 Are they meeting the objectives they were to suit local Namibian conditions. The modified created for and protecting their values? Are version, known as Namibia Management they able to cope with threats? These are some Effectiveness Tracking Tool (NAMETT), was of the questions that PA used to assess management effectiveness at 18 Table 1: NAMETT assessment scores for 2004 and 2009 managers, senior park stations in 2004 to determine the baseline managers, politicians, before the project intervention. donors and the general Site Name 2004 2009 public often ask. A NAMETT mid-term assessment during the first /Ai-/Ais Hot Springs Game Park 28 41 quarter of 2009 was conducted jointly by SPAN The question then is how and MET staff as a self assessment in the same Bwabwata National Park-East 34 58 do we measure 18 park stations, plus the newly proclaimed Bwabwata National Park-West 36 52 management effective- Mangetti National Park. This assessment aimed (Mahango and Buffalo Core) ness of PAs? The World to assess changes in management Bank/World Wildlife effectiveness in each park during the four and a Cape Cross Seal Reserve 48 60 Fund's Management half years since the 2004 assessment. Daan Viljoen Game Park 34 41 Effective-ness Tracking Tool (METT) is one of a 2009 Result Etosha National Park-EAST 52 55 series of management The results of the 2009 assessment show that effectiveness assessment with the exception of Naute Game Park, all Etosha National Park-WEST 48 50 tools built around the parks' scores have increased (Table 1). The Hardap Game Park 42 51 World Commission on parks that substantially increased their scores Khaudum National Park 43 54 Protected Areas (WCPA) by 20 or more points are: Bwabwata East, framework to help track Sperrgebiet, and Mudumu. This can be Mamili National Park 31 51 and monitor progress in attributed to factors such as official park PAs. proclamation, infrastructure development, Mangetti National Park 0 28 development of management plans, Mudumu National Park 36 54 NAMETT establishment of new park bases and The METT is a rapid investment from donor funding through Namib Naukluft Park-NORTH 43 56 assessment system based projects. Small changes were observed in the Namib Naukluft Park-SOUTH 41 50 on a score card question- scores of Skeleton Coast, Etosha East, Etosha naire. The score card West and Von Bach. Although Etosha falls under Naute Game Park 42 22 includes 31 questions the SPAN Project's Etosha Skeleton Coast Link under six elements of field demonstration site, the large size of the Skeleton Coast Park 44 45 management identified park and associated high staff numbers and Sperrgebiet National Park 35 59 in the WCPA framework, management activities tends to dilute impacts namely context, plan- of the Project's site-level interventions, while Von Bach Game Park 34 37 ning, inputs, process, in smaller parks the Project's interventions are Waterberg Plateau Park 50 62 outputs and outcomes. In more directly and easily scored. Naute Game preparation for SPAN Park dropped almost 50 % compared with the 2004 assessment scores, due to the transfer of Table 2: Improvement on issues in 2009 assessment the ranger.

Analysis The 2009 assessment forms and scores were analysed to capture trends and progress made since 2004. This entailed examining factors contributing to progress or where improvements could be made, as is evident in Table 2.

Data collected in the 2009 assessment shows that there was substantial improvement in parks. Issues that showed substantial improvement include: parks drafting their own work plans, progress on park management

Sandpaper 30 By Samson Mulonga SPAN Field Coordinator, Southern Parks Areas?

plans, research, resource management, major threats have developed in some of them. improved staff numbers, more staff training, In NNP North and Skeleton Coast, mining equipment, education and awareness threatens the biodiversity and intactness of programmes, monitoring and evaluation and these parks due to Uranium mining and consultation with Traditional Authorities (TAs) prospecting. Mining is seen as a major factor in as well as more benefits to communities economic development in Namibia and as such emanating from PAs. Various other is given priority. Such problems are developments which include: an increase in exacerbated by lack of human resources in MET development budget, proclamation of parks to monitor activities, while the new parks, awarding of tourism concessions to Environmental Management Act has not yet communities and various environmental been implemented. education programmes contributed to the improvement in management effectiveness in Observation the PAs. Many of the improvements and progress were attributable to interventions of NAMETT is a simple, user-friendly tool for the various MET initiatives including SPAN and BMM rapid assessment of park management Parks projects. effectiveness. It also is useful in that the questionnaire reminds people of important However the assessment also shows that there aspects to look at when trying to improve park was little progress on parks meeting their PA management. However, the concept of the objectives, security and sufficiency of the “scoring” progress is fraught with difficulties. budget, maintenance of equipment, fees re- It is a challenge to weigh various responses and allocation to the parks, condition of some of decide on scores. The current system the parks and constraint on law enforcement assumes, for example, that all questions cover duties. The budget is still problematic in all issues of equal weight, whereas this is not parks assessed, with minimal change expressed necessarily the case. There are situations on this issue by park managers. While the where none of the four alternative answers budget for park management has increased by appear to fit conditions in the PA precisely. 310 % since 2004, this is mainly attributed to a Some phrasing in questions or specific answers marked increase in the capital budget for park influences interviewers and interviewees, thus infrastructure development, rather than for affecting scores. the operational budget. Suboptimal allocation of the limited budget also exasperates the It has also been noted that it is quite easy to problem of operational budget deficiency. raise scores for each park, as a little bit of Equipment maintenance also presents a improvement from 1 to 2 would double the common problem due to budgetary constraints score. Therefore the targets set in the SPAN for maintenance according to data collected. project may need to be revised to aim for Staff members continue to experience higher achievements. problems in dealing with law enforcement, poaching and human wildlife conflict mainly Although PAs are a cornerstone of biodiversity due to the outdated Nature Conservation and their objectives mostly include Ordinance 4 of 1975. biodiversity conservation, it is difficult to Other developments include the proclamation assess the health of the ecosystem or its of three parks as National Parks during the biodiversity with NAMETT. It is a management assessment period. Khaudum was upgraded to effectiveness assessment tool that is process a national park from its previous status as a oriented rather than output and outcome game reserve while Bwabwata and Sperrgebiet oriented. The six question categories related national parks were newly created. Treasury to outputs and outcomes tend to be too general gave approval for the MET to retain 25% of park to assess individual park performance. In order entry fees, thus providing sustainable to comprehensively assess park performance, supplemental income. This money is channeled the NAMETT tool should be combined with to the Game Products Trust Fund (GPTF) which outcome oriented assessment that can look at funds development activities in PAs. change in intactness of biological, ecological and cultural values using data collected on a Biodiversity, ecological and cultural values of regular basis. most of the PAs assessed is still intact although

Sandpaper 31 By Midori Paxton, SPAN Project Coordinator and Augustine Ganes SPANUpdate SPAN Project Assistant

Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN) Project is a project of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, aiming to increase management effectiveness of the national protected area network in Namibia for biodiversity conservation. It is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

SPAN Contact details Project Coordinator Phone: 061 284 2505 Fax: 061 245160 [email protected] www.span.org.na

New Staff progress so far and recommend SPAN has two new project staff, Donald improvements for the rest of the project Hlahla, the Human Resource Transform- period until early 2012, UNDP appointed ation Adviser and Gary Nekongo, the a team of two consultants to conduct an Field Coordinator for the Etosha-Skeleton external mid-term project evaluation. Coast Link Demon-stration Site. The team has engaged with a number of stakeholders and visited the SPAN field demonstration sites. A draft evaluation report is expected in early November and the final report by the end of November.

Project Advisory Committee Meeting A Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting was held in Windhoek on July 22. a powerful and highly engaging The PAC is a committee with participation presentation (without a PowerPoint from project stakeholders including presentation!) to the audience on Women academic institutions, line ministries, and Conservation in the Caprivi Region. NGOs, para-statals and the private This Park Talk session was publicised in sector. the media and was broadcast on NBC television and radio.

At the meeting, presentations were made on SPAN Project objectives, indicators The Park Talk on October 20 welcomed and targets; SPAN's progress in the last eco-tourism and community-based three years, lessons learned and tourism specialist Ed Humphrey. He envisaged interventions for the rest of the spoke on the topic of the “Tourism in project period; and the SPAN Project Namibia's North East Parks: Past, sustainability plan. Present and Future.” He outlined tourism statistics, development prospects, Donald has more than 20 years PAC members provided a number of opportunities in light of the innovative experience in Human Resource useful inputs which were presented to the National Policy on Tourism and Wildlife Management including Training and Project Management Group comprising Concessions on State Land and plans to Development, Labour Law, Public the MET Management, UNDP and KfW. improve infrastructure and visitor access Relations and General Management at facilities in the BMM parks. He also executive level in the SADC Region. He Gender & Heath Main-streaming examined the potential of parks to is based at the Directorate of Admini- The SPAN Project put together a Gender contribute to the development of the stration and Support Services at the Head & Health Mainstreaming Plan, aiming to Region. Office. ensure that both gender and health issues are fully taken into account in the Park Diary 2010 Gary has worked in Kunene Region since project activities. For instance, when the The MET is producing the Park Diary 2001, first as a community development Project supports a park-level technical 2010. As is the case with the one facilitator with Integrated rural committee, it must ensure that the produced for 2009, the Park Diary will Development and Nature Conservation women's voice is properly heard at have 12 original colour pages, including (IRDNC), and later as the MET Warden meetings. The Plan sets out a framework the MET mission statement, protected stationed in Opuwo. for mainstreaming and suggests concrete area map, a protected area facts table activities for individual project and an MET contact list. It also contains He started with the SPAN Project in June components. an educational page introducing IUCN 2009, and is currently based at Protected Area Management Categories. Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park. Park Talks The Diary will be available from The fourth Park Talk of this year was held December. Mid-term Project Evaluation on August 25 with IRDNC's Janet Mutota The six-year SPAN Project has passed its as the speaker in celebration of FAST Project mid-term. In order to evaluate the International Women's Month. She made The Financial Administrative Systems Transformation (FAST) has turned a year

Sandpaper 32 old, and, although we haven't achieved all that we planned in our first year, we have Training Support made good progress towards: SPAN Project places a strong emphasis on supporting capacity building and has Deconcentrated Budget Control - cost supported a number of training activities centres were created for all Chief Control for the DPWM this year. Supported Wardens (CCWs) in the Directorate of training includes programmes involving Parks and Wildlife Management. crime investigation training for rhino Assistance was given to each of the conservation and firearm handling in CCWs to prepare an activity-based Etosha, vehicle tracking system use, first budget for 2010 onwards, showing that aid, game count techniques, budgeting roughly an extra 50 percent is needed to and Incident Book training. Leadership achieve all of our desired outcomes. We and community capacity enhancement have requested this increase from the Management for Biodiversity & Protected for HIV/AIDS training are also envisaged Ministry of Finance. Areas. this year.

Fleet Management - the Tender Board An environmental information working Parka for Anti- Poaching Unit has approved Avis as our fleet group was formed comprising a number Three hundred parkas, with anti- management provider. We plan to have of Government and non-governmental poaching identification, were produced, this operational by the end of this year. organisations working in the environ- covering the shortfall of the MET budget mental information field. This workshop in purchasing the Parkas which form part Procurement - purchase requisition also led to the formulation of national level of the MET uniform. approval has been delegated to budget biodiversity indicators and is expected to holders up to N$10 000. Field staff have lead to development of a systematic These parkas were distributed to North reported that there is already an biodiversity monitoring system for the East, Okaukuejo, Otjovasandu Wildlife improvement in the speed of purchase park system. Protection Services, Namib Naukluft Anti- order processing. poaching unit, South, Daan Viljoen and Concession Unit Support Waterberg. Given recent increases in FAST will focus on continuing to support SPAN continues to support the work of poaching cases including rhinos in neigh- budget-holders in managing their cost the Concession Unit and Concession bouring countries, the SPAN Project felt it centres, improving the communication Committee. Given the delay in filling pertinent to provide support to strengthen and support from Finance to field, and three MET posts for the Unit that were anti-poaching activities in parks. The improving revenue collection during the approved by the Public Service Parkas were distributed during the winter coming year. Commission, SPAN-supported person- months to keep the staff warm in the field nel have filled the gap and continued with and are expected to spread the anti- Human Resource Transformation the Unit's work. poaching message. Project (HRTP) Since its inception at the end of August So far this year, 16 Concession Climate Change Vulnerability Study 2009, the HRTP core activities centered Committee meetings have taken place An expert team has been contracted to on: and 15 new concessions were approved. conduct a Vulnerability Assessment of the  Rolling out target setting and The total annual revenue from these Impacts of Climate Change on Namibia's performance monitoring to SPAN pilot concessions to the Government exceeds National Protected Area Network. sites; N$ 4 million. The Unit is expected to be  Assisting the restructuring process; fully staffed by the end of the year and will This study focuses on:  Establishing training capacity, ensure sustainability of the Unit.  Vulnerability of wildlife to climate coordinating training and ensuring that change in Namibia and effectiveness of training takes place; Concessions Policy Brochure the current protected area (PA) network Translation  Developing an HR strategy and in safeguarding wildlife populations A pamphlet for the National Policy on identifying areas for HR improvement; and biodiversity under different climate Tourism Wildlife Concessions on State and change scenarios; and Land was translated into five local  Economic impacts of climate change-  Finalising the MET HIV and AIDS languages, namely Oshiwambo, Policy. ascribed wildlife and biodiversity losses Otjiherero, Damara/ Nama, Rukwangali on sectors dependent on wildlife and Silozi. The purpose of this translation Parks job descriptions are being resources such as tourism and game was to provide people in the rural areas products industries. reviewed, the proposed restructuring with an opportunity to understand and document was reviewed and apply for concessions in their regions. improvements were suggested in relation The study will include four landscape- The policy brochures will be distributed to level case study sites, each of which to job grading and salary differentials. all directors of MET and to MET regional Training capacity has been reviewed and includes a national PA(s). A draft of the offices where communities can access study is expected by the end of 2009 to be a leadership course is planned in them. October. A draft Human Resource completed in early 2010. Strategy has been developed and Incident Book Support circulated for comments. It is hoped that SPAN Project has been supporting the once approved, it will form the basis for all implementation of the Incident Book human resource interventions and Monitoring System (IBMS). To date, the activities. IBMS has been introduced in Bwabwata, Mudumu, Mamili, Etosha, Skeleton Information and Knowledge Coast, /Ai-/Ais, Sperrgebiet, Hardap and Management Workshop most recently the Namib Naukluft Park. In collaboration with the Namibia Nature SPAN will continue to support the Foundation (NNF)-NamPower Partner- implementation of the IBMS in these Above: Newly appointed scout Magreth ship Initiative, a workshop was held on parks, introduce the system to new parks, Vejererako during fire fighting in Etosha August 14 on Environmental Information and pursue the alignment of the IBMS National Park during September. Services, Systems & Knowledge with the official park reporting system. SPAN Update continued on Pg 36

Sandpaper 33 ParkNews

Game translocation to Kavango con- Weapon Training at Oshivelo Army Further posters depict the parks' servancies Battle School zonation maps. Like the management plan itself, the posters will be frequently A historic translocation took place in the updated to reflect the realities of the Kavango Region when the Ministry of adaptive management approach. Environment and Tourism (MET) released 45 sub-adult eland, 100 kudu, 50 zebra The management plan system piloted in and 200 impala into the Muduva the north-east has been extremely Nyangana and George Mukoya successful as a tool for staff. It will be conservancies in July. rolled out in other Namibian parks next year, while the posters will form the The event was witnessed by Hompa foundations of a manual on how the Kassian Shiyambi of the Gciriku system works. Traditional Authority and his headmen, Above: Taking aim… MET and Ministry of the Governor of the Kavango Region, Hon Defence staff in action during weapon Community-based Natural Resource John Thighuru, conservancy repre- training held at Oshivelo Army Battle Management (CBNRM) and Rangeland sentatives and MET staff. School. Photo: Immanuel Kapofi Management Consultant Colin Nott has also designed a poster to explain his work Seventy two staff members from Etosha on sustainable rangeland management National Park were trained in handling practices in conservancies bordering the and using firearms, courtesy of the parks. The holistic management Ministry of Defence, at the Oshivelo Army approach, which forms the basis of these Battle School between June 8 and July 17 practices, is vital for the integration of 2009. conservation objectives with agri- cultural needs and practices in the This follows an agreement reached region. between the two entities to conduct Above: Into the wild... Eland await their relevant training at the School, further Sets of posters will only be distributed to release into the Muduva Nyangana and strengthening relations between the two MET offices in the BMM parks. For further George Mukoya conservancies. Photo: ministries. information, contact Park Management Apollo Kannyinga consultant, Theo Wassenaar at cell Training is important to staff members number 081 1246033 or e-mail him at At the event, Teo Nghitila, Director of who conduct field patrols and deal with [email protected]. Alternatively, Environmental Affairs, delivered a problem animal control beyond park contact Simon Mayes, BMM SPAN Field keynote address on behalf of the Minister boundaries. Coordinator at cell number 081 1481236 of Environment and Tourism, Hon or e-mail [email protected]. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. In his With the background training, skills and address, Governor Thighuru said Govern- knowledge obtained from the Ministry of By: Theo Wassenaar, Park Management ment was implementing programmes Defence, Namibian biodiversity will be Consultant aimed at improving rural people's further protected for our future livelihoods. Hompa Kassian Shiyambi generations. Inter-ministerial Sports and Fun Day urged conservancy members to take care By Immanuel Kapofi, Warden, Namutoni, The Ministry of Environment and Tourism of their wildlife and to refrain from Etosha National Park illegal practices. soccer team scooped first prize in the 2009 Inter-Ministerial Sports event, Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili (BMM) while the Volleyball team took third The eland were purchased from a posters commercial farmer in the Central Region place in their event. while kudu and impala originated from The Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili (BMM) The Sports Event and Fun Day was the Bwabwata National Park and zebra from Project commissioned a series of 13 Mudumu National Park. brainchild of the MET's own Sport's posters to summarise the work done to Committee, and has become an annual develop operational management plans fixture. In total, seven ministries Game was released at one of the two for the north-east parks. The posters also boreholes drilled by the Ministry and participated in sports, including soccer, serve to inform staff and the public volleyball and netball. commissioned through funding from the about the guiding principles, content Integrated Community Based Ecosystem and functions of the plans. Management (ICEMA) Project. Both The event was officially endorsed as an The “Management Foundations” poster annual event by MET's Minister, Hon institutions also funded the trans- lists the parks' goals while “Management location. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Tools” defines and explains the eight Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport management tools, developed with park By: Apollo Kannyinga, CCW, North-East Parks and Culture, Rev Willem Konjore, at a staff during the three-year project. Sandpaper 34 Compiled by Kaarina Eelu, SPAN Project Assistant

ceremony last year. The count once again provided a quest for a fully functional transfrontier platform for collaborative management park. The Ministry of Defence organised this between the parks and conservancies in year's event, which was held from August the north east. Three studies commissioned by the JMB 14 to 16. were completed earlier in the year. Members of the Natural Resource These comprise the Namibian Integrated The sports day aims to offer public Working Group captured data during the Conservation and Development Plan service officials an opportunity to count and the results will be distributed (ICDP), South African ICDP, and the River interact with one another, harmonise in the form of a poster in November. Management Plan. The studies have inter-ministerial staff relationships and since been approved by the JMB and are combat stress for physical and mental Statistics of the count: set to be signed by the ministers fitness. • 22 routes in Mahango - total 323 km responsible for environment in both • 35 routes in Buffalo - total 564 km countries. • 44 routes in Bwabwata East total 609 km Using information for planning obtained • 22 Routes in Mudumu NP total 292 km through these documents, the JMB has • A further 888km were walked in the embarked on an expansion from the eastern Caprivi Region conservancies current transfrontier park to a The Ministry of Environment and Tourism Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA). (MET), Integrated Rural Development Through the tourism working group of and Nature Conservation (IRDNC), World the JMB, a branding exercise was Wildlife fund (WWF), ICEMA and SPAN commissioned to look for an appropriate projects provided support to the game name for the new TFCA and a new logo count. and slogan. These were approved at the Above: Soccer stars … MET soccer team last JMB meeting held in Pretoria during members receiving the first place By Simon Mayes September, and are now awaiting top- trophy. Photo: Fernandes Julio Photos by Kami Lee (volunteer with IRDNC) level approval.

By Zelda Rafie, Clerk, Head Office Below: Planning and GPS training at Through the Finance Working Group the Susuwe Ranger Station, Bwabwata JMB commissioned a legal opinion on the North East Game Count National Park establishment of a trust for the JMB which was completed and presented to the JMB at the last meeting.

By Samson Mulonga: SPAN Field Coordinator - southern parks

Fish River Canyon viewpoint upgrade

A new state-of-the-art viewpoint for the Fish River Canyon will soon be constructed near Hobas. Plans have been Above: MET Bwabwata East Warden finalised by the committee overseeing Monika Shikongo and IRDNC Facilitator the project, which comprises Christian Liep Kamba chair the Bwabwata East Lerch (Head: MET Maintenance Division), game count Ulrich Boois (Deputy Director: Parks), Harry Tjihukununa (CCW: Southern The North-East Game Count was Parks), Midori Paxton (Project conducted from August 26 to September Coordinator: SPAN) and Samson Mulonga 23. It covered parks and conservancies (Field Coordinator for Southern Parks: from Impalila Island to the Mahango Core SPAN). MET Capital Projects and the SPAN Area within Bwabwata National Park. Mamili National Park was not included due to flooding.

A game count workshop was held at the /Ai-/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute Park three weeks beforehand to discuss dates and logistics. The /Ai-/Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park (ARTP) Joint Management Board (JMB) continues to make progress in the © Nina Maritz

Sandpaper 35 Project will fund the initiative. The Project was coordinated by the hour on any road outside any camping Warden of Southern Sperrgebiet National site or rest camp (provided that that the Development includes the construction Park, Kosmos Shilongo, assisted by provisions of this paragraph shall not be of a new view point consisting of Ranger Paulus Johannes. Lessons from applicable to any proclaimed interpretive materials, resting places, this project will feed into the larger thoroughfare in the Namib Desert Park or viewing platforms and ablution facilities project of IAS across all protected areas Skeleton Coast Park)”. with waterwise, enviro flush toilets. The in the South. project is expected to be completed This applies to Etosha National Park, early next year - in time for the 2010 FIFA By Samson Mulonga: SPAN Field Coordinator: where speed limits are set at 60 km/h for World Cup. southern parks park users and 80km/h for MET staff under emergencies while on official By Samson Mulonga: SPAN Field Coordinator - Over speeding! duties. southern parks Although this regulation is stipulated on Invasive Alien Species removal the park entry permit, speeding is cited as the major cause of accidents within A pilot project for the removal of the Park. Since January this year, 19 car invasive alien species (IAS) was recently accidents have been recorded. Of these completed in the Sperrgebiet National three were in the Okaukuejo area, four Park. The project stems from a larger occurred around Namutoni, while 12 trans-boundary initiative between occurred in the Halali area. Namibia and South Africa through the /Ai-/Ais/Richtersveld Trans-frontier Above: Lucky escape ... A tourist vehicle Animals killed in accidents include seven Park (ARTP) that involved meetings and springbok, a kudu and an impala. training on approaches used by the overturned and later caught fire in Working for Water Programme which Etosha National Park. No one was hurt in this accident. Photo: Isaskar Uahoo To control the situation, MET has works to clear IAS in South Africa. purchased two radar speed control monitors, and will soon start fining The main species cleared was Prosopis Under the general regulations applicable to all Game Parks, section 9(c) states: culprits who exceed the Park's speed glandulosa, the key IAS along the Orange limits. National speeding fines were River system. About 274 Prosopis trees “…without the written approval of the Executive Committee no person except recently adjusted so speedsters, were removed during three weeks. beware! Volunteers from Oranjemund were an officer of the Nature Conservation trained by Enviro-Weed; a Namibian and Tourism Division of the Admini- stration, acting directly in the execution Keep to the designated speed limits and registered company dealing with IAS, help save our precious biodiversity. through funding availed by the SPAN of his duties or in the exercising of his power, shall in a game park drive a Project. By Uahoo Isaskar, Warden: Halali, ENP vehicle faster than 60 kilometers per

SPAN Update continued from Pg 31

MET Website Upgrade (Cabinet and Parliamentarians), the as the 3rd phase. The SPAN Project has been assisting Namibian public and other interested With this top-up funding, the Project will the MET IT division in linking field offices parties (e.g. donors) with a compre- be able to complete park management to the MET network. In addition, in hensive snapshot of the status of infrastructure in eight stations including collaboration with the NACOMA Project, Namibia's Protected Area Network and the two stations in the Khaudum the SPAN Project is assisting the MET in individual protected areas. National Park. creating a new official website. A website development company and The aim is to provide up-to-date The Millennium Challenge Account content writer/editor will be working with information about protected areas as well (MCA) Tourism Project started in full-force the MET IT Division to create a new as data from the past five years. The this year. The Project includes over US$ revamped website, which will carry an report will show progress, indicate current 40 million investment in Etosha National array of information on MET activities for trends, address constraints and Park management infrastructure and both MET staff and external users. challenges and indicate future plans. placement of a change management adviser for Etosha. The EU supported State of Parks Report Update on Partner Projects EWERAP Project has come to an end SPAN Project is coordinating the drafting The Bwabwata-Mudumu-Mamili (BMM) (please see the report on page 14). of a State of Parks Report to be published Parks Project is due to enter the 2nd phase Thanks Andre for your great work and early in 2010. The State of Parks report is with €3.5 million top-up funding from the passion! intended to provide the Government KfW, with the futher €6 million committed

Sandpaper 36 Compiled by Kaarina Eelu and Augustine Ganes Qui Help us solve this problem! z Question: Find four hidden animals which were declared problem- causing animals under the 1975 Nature Conservation Ordinance.

A B Z L K C H A C M A B A B O O N Gary Nekongo, the SPAN Field Co-ordinator for T T C L E L I D O C O R C W N K S Etosha Skeleton Coast Link, models this editions prize for us - a parka F T N A H P E L E G I R L I H A N jacket! U K A U N A Y J A N Q O H C Z A A G E I S S A D Y K C O R C E A R K N H Y E N A Q B O Y A I B P T I E O K A A Q D O N K E Y R F M X N V I E E N I T S U G U A V A Y O A R

Send the 4 names to the L A K C A J D E K C A B K C A L B SPAN address below, and you could win a MET anti- poaching parka jacket. Come into our offices to view the prize! Problem animal 1:...... The first correct entry drawn will Problem animal 2:...... win the prize featured. Simply find the 4 names. Send Problem animal 3:...... these to the SPAN Project, PZN Building, Private Bag 13306, Problem animal 4:...... Windhoek, deliver to the SPAN Team, Second Floor, PZN Building, Ruhr Street, Northern Industria Windhoek, fax to 061 245160 or email to [email protected] by 29 January 2010.

The judges decision is final and no for Sandpaper No 15: correspondence will be entered into. WINNER This competition is open to all employees of the Ministry of Lea Uutsi Andreas, MET Headquarters - Windhoek, and Laimi Erckie, Environment and Tourism only. The winner will be announced in the next from Namutoni EE Centre, Etosha National Park. They each won a edition of Sandpaper. MET anti -poaching parka jacket. Sandpaper 37