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CONSERVATION, EDUCATION AND AWARENESS The education program is primarily for land managers, farmers, school children but also includes overseas visitors. It focuses on the ecological importance of raptors and scavengers in order to maintain a healthy environment and to build overall awareness of these conservation issues. Stakeholder Awareness REST Board of Directors has met with many stakeholders in the country. REST has attended farmers meetings in districts across the country and attended local and national agricultural shows with the live educational vulture, Nelson. Educational talks about vultures and poisons are given approximately once a week at REST headquarters or around Namibia to school children, environmental groups and farmers groups. Vulture Friendly Farms Farmers who embrace the discontinuation of poison use on their farms and adopt other alternatives to protect their livestock are being awarded a sign to be posted on the landowners’ gate to demonstrate to the community that they practice ‘vulture friendly’ land management, sponsored by the Global Environmental Fund of the UNDP.
Educating For The Future In 2004 we launched our SOS (Save Our Species) Campaign school art competition which aims to raise the awareness of the plight of rare and endangered species in young Namibian children. Local school children were provided with information on our four ‘flagship’ species, as well as paints, brushes and cotton school bags produced by a local woman’s group. The children were then asked to paint their favourite species on the bag. 2006 – SOS Campaign Phase Two The second phase of the campaign has focused on students at primary and combined schools in Grades 3-7. Seven towns have been selected because they fall within the key agricultural and farming areas covered by the overall Poison and Vulture Awareness Campaign. The Disney wildlife fund support our work, reaching 7 500 additional children. An Important Message By educating, informing and involving children in these towns the awareness of the plight of rare and endangered species is raised in the minds of future generations of farmers and land users. Participation in the competition by children at these schools will help the message reach approximately 6000 children. Awareness and education of a wider Namibian and international audience will be reached through the production of the winning designs printed onto 2000 eco friendly shopping bags and sold throughout tourist and retail outlets in Namibia.
FUTURE EDUCATION INITIATIVES New Facilities At Okatjemunde, the new REST headquarters, an informative Education Centre has been built alongside the hide which will provide the focus for our educational awareness campaigns. Schools visits will provide valuable learning for the future land users of the country, accompanied by a simple activity sheet learners and teachers will be encouraged to get the most out of their visit. |
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The Interactive Visitor Centre is planned for 2008, this will be simple and user-friendly with displays designed to encourage visitors to get a better understanding of the importance of vultures and raptors in the eco-system, and to embrace ‘vulture culture’. A visit to the Interactive Centre will be the starting point for a sense trail for visually, hearing and physically impaired visitors. In addition walking trails and printed pamphlets will guide all visitors through the facilities and surrounding land. In addition a “sensory” trail is currently being designed that will allow all visitors to experience the smell, feel and visuals of the Namibian environment. This trail is being especially designed for children and adults with physical challenges, with support from the Namibian Ministry of Health and sponsored by Natural Encounters.
Broader Programmes As our programmes expand to include other rare and endangered species the centre will reflect this with new displays and information.
A funding appeal is being launched to enable REST to bring children from the more remote and disadvantaged areas of the country to visit us. It is important that our message reaches as many young people as possible. Please help us if you can.
Overseas Education Through sister-school and education exchange programmes overseas students will come to visit REST and share learning.VITAL CONSERVATION Raptor Decline The Cape Griffon vulture is endemic to southern Africa and has experienced continuous population declines as a result of poisoning, electrification, habitat destruction and diet deficiencies. In the last half century all of the countries in the region have experienced major raptor declines. Namibia has been one of the hardest hit with our Cape Griffon population plummeting in approximately 50 years from about 2000 to only 11 individual birds. REST has already initiated many research and conservation programmes focused on Cape Griffon vultures that will benefit many other raptor and scavenger species. Research Base World recognition is coming through our large volume and safe capture techniques, fitting the first vultures in Africa with satellite transmitters and developing a translocation of Cape vultures from South Africa to Namibia in order to provide a proper breeding base. This strong research base now allows us to realistically predict where land based conservation efforts will be needed and the direct results in behaviour to birds when their numbers drop so dramatically. Positive Communication Communication at a local level is through a strong network of meetings with conservancies and farming unions. By specifically targeting land manager education some very good information has been published. This information is used in conjunction with posters and information sheets that are already in production about the vital role of raptors and scavengers in the environment. With the use of posters and brochures it is believed this will dispel preconceived negative notions of raptors and redefine their image in a positive light. These posters will also serve to educate school children, the general public and tourists as to the important role raptors play in the environment and Namibia’s role in that protection. Edcation Eco-system Value In addition information is being produced on vultures in general and the important role that these serene and noble raptors play in the eco-system – maintaining a disease-free environment. Vultures, because they eat together in large numbers are particularly important as they appear to be the only species in the world that seems to be completely immune to diseases such as Anthrax and Botulism (both diseases found in Namibia) and can consume an infected carcass within an hour. Assisting Farmers – Predator ID A laminated predator ID sheet has been developed to assist farmers and staff in identifying the predator responsible for preying on their livestock. This increase in correct information has allowed farmers to act ethically in determining their response and has begun to decrease poison use. Assisting Farmers – Livestock Protection Collar Project REST are involving local Namibians to develop poison alternative items to scare off predators from livestock. Specifically scent and noise collars, which are non-lethal but very effective as they make the predator unsure of its environment. Trials of noise and scent prototypes are currently underway, this will be extended during 2006, and then a local self-help group will develop a small sustainable business producing these collars to sell at agricultural shows across Namibia. Worldwide Media Support The local, regional and international media has given REST a lot of support in all areas of its work. We have developed good partnerships within the print, radio and film industry and this relationship is proving essential is disseminating our information across the world. International film organisations such as BBC, Animal Planet, 50/50 News Programme have filmed at REST within the last two years.
Partnerships The continuing partnership with organisations like De Wildt in South Africa and the fact that REST is now advising researchers and conservation groups all over the world can only assist in the global knowledge base and developing research on vultures. Scientific Papers Through the collaboration with research and scientific specialists REST has made valuable contributions to the writing of a number of scientific papers, and continues to be involved in the writing of these papers. |
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©2006 REST AND KARL ANDRE TERBLANCHE
Web Design by KARL ANDRE TERBLANCHE |
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