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Namibian National Biodiversity
Programme
Workgroups
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Details within the
programme:
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Working
groups
are
flexible,
informal,
and
interdisciplinary,
and
convened
when
necessary
to
develop
solutions
to
a
specific
task.
Much
of
their
work
is
conducted
by
e-mail,
phone
and
fax
to
limit
the
burden
of
regular
and
time-consuming
committee
meetings,
but
round-table
gatherings
are
called
when
face-to-face
discussion
would
be
productive.
Thematic
input
to
the
National
Biodiversity
Strategy
and
Action
Plan
(NBSAP)
is
largely
being
coordinated
by
these
groups.
Wetlands
Working
Group
This
group
was
formed
in
1997.
It
prioritises
taxa
and
wetlands
for
research
attention,
develops
educational
materials
for
schools
and
the
general
public,
samples
threatened
habitats,
is
planning
an
ecological
monitoring
programme
for
rivers,
and
coordinates
national
freshwater
research
activities
of
five
major
institutional
players:
-
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
Water
&
Rural
Development
(Department
of
Water
Affairs,
DWA,
and
National
Botanical
Research
Institute,
NBRI)
-
Ministry
of
Environment
&
Tourism
(MET)
-
Ministry
of
Basic
Education
and
Culture
(National
Museum
of
Namibia,
NMN)
-
Ministry
of
Fisheries
&
Marine
Resources
(Hardap
Freshwater
Fish
Institute,
HFFI)
-
University
of
Namibia,
UNAM
Members:
Chair:
Shirley
Bethune
(DEA)
Elna
Almirall
(Namibian
Water
Corporation),
Laura
Ashipala
(DWA),
Chris
Brown
(Namibia
Nature
Foundation),
Nicholas
Clarke
(DWA/
NBRI),
Barbara
Curtis
(NBRI),
Stefan
de
Wet
(DWA),
Eryn
Griffin
(NMN),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Clinton
Hay
(HFFI),
Dave
Joubert
(Polytechnic
of
Namibia),
Esmerialda
Klaassen
(NBRI),
Holger
Kolberg
(MET),
Orton
Msiska
(UNAM),
Kevin
Roberts
(DWA),
Rob
Simmons
(MET)
Wetlands
News
&
Updates:
Top
Agricultural
Biodiversity
Focal
Group
This
group,
formed
in
1998,
is
led
by
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
Water
&
Rural
Development
(MAWRD)
and
involves
NGOs
and
projects
with
similar
objectives.
Its
aims
include
the
-
integration
of
biodiversity
conservation
needs
into
policy
and
planning
of
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture
and
other
agricultural
institutions
in
Namibia;
-
identification
of
gaps
which
may
exist
in
the
conservation
of
agricultural
diversity
at
genetic,
species
and
landscape
levels;
-
promotion
of
environmentally
appropriate
and
diverse
farming
practices
as
a
way
of
linking
traditional
land
management
practices
to
sustainable
development.
Members:
Chair:
Jacque
Els
(MAWRD)
Blanca
Braun
(MAWRD),
Nico
de
Klerk
(MET),
Jurgen
Hoffmann
(Namibian
Agronomic
Board),
Dave Joubert
(Polytechnic
of
Namibia),
Martha
Kandawa-Schulz
(UNAM),
Barney
Karuuombe
(NANGOF),
Herta
Kolberg
(National
Plant
Genetic
Resources
Centre),
Bertus
Kruger
(DRFN),
Gillian
Maggs-Kolling
(NBRI),
Eugene
Marais
(NMN),
Osmund
Mwandemele
(UNAM),
Mark
Robertson
(DRFN),
Roelie
Venter
(Namibia
Agricultural
Union),
Juliane
Zeidler
(DRFN)
Top
Forest
Biodiversity
Focal
Group
This
important
group
was
convened
in
1998
after
discussions
with
the
MET's
Directorate
of
Forestry,
DoF,
from
1996-1998.
Its
main
aims
are
to
feed
input
(on
non-timber
resources,
ecological
processes
and
landscape
ecological
issues,
and
biodiversity-related
evaluation
of
management
strategies)
into
activities
of
the
DoF
and
related
projects.
It
also
gives
input
to
a
DoF
project
on
the
identification
of
threatened
areas
and
"strategic
forests"
for
protection
and
community
management.
Members:
Chair:
Esther
Lusepani
(DoF
-
Environmental
Forestry
Project)
Phoebe
Barnard
(DEA),
Moses
Chakanga
(DoF),
Dave
Cole
(CRIAA),
Adolf
de
Klerk
(AgriFutura),
Patrick
Graz
(Polytechnic),
Ben
Hochobeb
(UNAM),
Kahepako
Uariua-Kakujaha
(NANGOF),
Gillian
Maggs-Koelling
(NBRI),
J.P.
Msangi
(UNAM),
Osmund
Mwandemele
(UNAM),
Mark
Robertson
(DRFN),
Pauline
Sekgonyana
(Namibia
Eagle
Traditional
Healers'
Association),
Sem
Shikongo
(DEA),
Jussi
Viitanen
(DoF
-
Environmental
Forestry
Project),
Victor
von
Alten
(rangeland
ecologist),
Lorraine
Witschas
(herbalist)
Top
Traditional
Knowledge
Focal
Group
The
Traditional
Knowledge
Focal
Group
was
initiated
in
1998.
It
addresses
-
sustainable
use
of
traditional
medicines
and
other
biological
resources;
-
documentation
and
protection
of
traditional
knowledge
of
land-
management
practices
and
use
of
agricultural
genetic
diversity;
and
-
protection
of
intellectual
property
rights
through
informed
prior
consent
and
benefit-sharing.
This
group
works
closely
with
the
Biotrade
Focal
Group
(see
below)
and
others
to
consolidate
recommendations
for
appropriate
policy
&
legislation
(see
also
the
DEA's
Environmental
Legislation
Project).
It
will
support,
and
be
led
by,
grassroots
NGOs
already
working
on
the
ground
on
related
issues.
Members:
Chair:
Sem
Shikongo
(NNBP)
E.
Beukes
(herbalist),
Henk
Coetsee
(MET),
Jafet
G/aq'o
(Working
Group
on
Indigenous
Minorities
in
Southern
Africa,
WIMSA),
Patrick
Graz
(Polytechnic
of
Namibia),
Ben
Hochobeb
(UNAM),
Thekla
Hohmann
(WIMSA),
Kahepako
Uariua-Kakujaha
(Namibian
NGO
Forum),
Mutjinde
Katjiua
(UNAM),
Siballi
Kgobetsi
(Namibian
Traditional
Healers'
and
Practitioners'
Board),
Debie
Le
Beau
(UNAM),
Cyril
Lombard
(Centre
for
Research
Innovation
Action
Africa),
Gillian
Maggs
-
Koelling
(NBRI),
J.P.
Msangi
(UNAM),
Teofilus
Nghitila
(DRFN),
Garth
Owen-Smith
(Integrated
Rural
Development
and
Nature
Conservation),
Pauline
Sekgonyana
(Namibia
Eagle
Traditional
Healers'
Association),
Penda
Shimali
(DRFN/Polytechnic
of
Namibia),
Richard
Simons
(UNAM),
Lorraine
Witschas
(herbalist)
Top
Biotrade
Focal
Group
The
development
of
national
policy
and
legislation
on
bioprospecting
and
other
biotrade-related
issues
such
as
intellectual
property
rights
and
benefit-sharing
are
the
main
focus
of
this
group,
which
formed
in
1998
with
a
preliminary
meeting
hosted
by
the
NBRI
in
1997.
Members:
Co-chairs:
Phoebe
Barnard
(NNBP)
and
Sem
Shikongo
(DEA)
)
Ben
Bennett
(MAWRD
economist),
Dave
Cole
(Centre
for
Research
Innovation
Action
Africa,
CRIAA),
Edward
Kamboua
(MTI),
Martha
Kandawa-Schulz
(UNAM),
Mutjinde
Katjiua
(UNAM),
Herta
Kolberg
(NBRI
-
National
Plant
Genetic
Resources
Centre),
Cyril
Lombard
(CRIAA),
Gillian
Maggs-Koelling
(NBRI),
Coleen
Mannheimer
(NBRI),
Eugène
Marais
(NMN),
Martin
Mbewe
(UNAM),
Mark
Robertson
(DRFN),
Helen
Suich
(DEA
economist),
Kahepako
Uariua-Kakujaha
(Namibian
NGO
Forum)
Biota
News
&
Updates:
Top
Namibian
Biotechnology
Alliance
(NABA)
NABA
was
formed
in
1996
to
help
consolidate
information
and
planning
related
to
biotechnology
and
biosafety
in
Namibia.
It
was
originally
chaired
by
the
Central
Veterinary
Laboratory
of
the
Ministry
of
Agriculture,
but
now
operates
from
the
Science
Faculty
at
UNAM,
under
the
auspices
of
the
Ministry
of
Higher
Education
and
Employment
Creation
(MHETEC).
Namibia
was
one
of
18
countries
participating
in
a
GEF-supported,
UNEP-assisted
pilot
project
to
develop
a
National
Biosafety
Framework
and
had
the
highest-ranked
results.
A
country
study
of
biotechnology
activities,
a
set
of
national
technical
guidelines
for
the
safe
use
of
biotechnology,
and
a
national
policy
have
been
completed,
and
draft
national
legislation
is
currently
underway.
See
also
NABA
and
National
Biosafety
Framework.
Members:
Chair:
Martha
Kandawa-Schulz
(UNAM)
Phoebe
Barnard
(NNBP),
Bianca
Braun
(MAWRD),
Axel
Hartmann
(private
veterinarian),
Jurgen
Hoffmann
(Namibian
Agronomic
Board),
John
Le
Roux
(Namibia
Meat
Board),
Harold
Kaura
(Central
Vet
Lab),
Geoffrey
Kauta
(Windhoek
Municipality),
Sem
Shikongo
(NNBP),
Paulina
Shiyelekeni
(MAWRD),
Elmo
Thomas
(MHETEC),
Selma-Penna
Uutonih
(MHETEC),
Berthold
Wöhlleber
(MAWRD,
treasurer),
Georgina
Zaïre
(Central
Vet
Lab)
Top
Terrestrial
Biomonitoring
Group
This
group
is
tackling
the
difficult
issue
of
monitoring
and
analysing
environmental
change
through
biodiversity
loss
and
disruption
of
ecological
processes
in
the
terrestrial
environment.
A
national
framework
for
terrestrial
biomonitoring
will
be
fully
integrated
with
other
environmental
change
monitoring
activities
for
desertification,
bush
encroachment
and
rangeland
management,
climate
change,
and
other
projects,
through
joint
planning.
The
group
first
met
in
1998
and
has
designed
a
core
network
of
long-term
ecological
research
and
monitoring
sites,
as
well
as
preliminary
analysis
of
biophysical
"environmental
domains"
of
Namibia
as
a
step
towards
conservation
prioritisation.
The
Desert
Research
Foundation
of
Namibia
(DRFN)
is
taking
a
lead
role
in
this
process
because
of
its
decades
of
ecological
data-gathering
and
analysis
at
the
Desert
Ecological
Research
Unit
at
Gobabeb
(DERU)
and
other
sites.
Major
inputs
will
be
from
Namibia's
Programme
to
Combat
Desertification
(NAPCOD),
and
Namibia's
National
Climate
Change
Committee,
with
which
the
DRFN
and
the
National
Biodiversity
Programme
are
closely
linked.
Members:
Chairs:
Mark
Robertson
(DRFN)
and
Juliane
Zeidler
(DRFN
/
NAPCOD)
Jon
Barnes
(DEA),
Chris
Brown
(Namibia
Nature
Foundation),
Barbara
Curtis
(NBRI-Tree
Atlas
Project),
Seth
Eiseb
(NMN),
Eryn
Griffin
(NMN),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Joh
Henschel
(DRFN),
Herta
Kolberg
(NBRI),
Eugène
Marais
(NMN),
Sem
Shikongo
(NNBP),
Rob
Simmons
(MET),
Ben
Strohbach
(NBRI-Agroecological
Zoning
Project),
Greg
Stuart-Hill
(WWF-US)
Top
National
Biosystematics
Working
Group
This
group
has
prepared
a
draft
national
strategy
for
strengthening
national
taxonomic
capacity
in
support
of
biodiversity
conservation
and
planning.
Formed
in
1999,
it
was
initially
chaired
by
the
National
Museum
of
Namibia
(NMN)
and
has
now
been
taken
over
by
the
National
Botanical
Research
Institute
(NBRI),
with
support
from
the
museum.
Members:
Chair:
Gillian
Maggs-Koelling
(NBRI)
Eugene
Marais
(NMN),
Kevin
Roberts
(DWA),
Barbara
Curtis
(Tree
Atlas
Project),
Ashley
Kirk-Spriggs
(NMN),
Bronwen
Currie
(MFMR),
Ben
Van
Zyl
(MFMR),
Clinton
Hay
(MFMR),
Chris
Brown
(NNF),
Dave
Joubert
(Polytechnic
of
Namibia),
Eryn
Griffin
(NMN),
Herta
Kolberg
(NBRI),
Joh
Henschel
(DRFN),
Mark
Robertson
(DRFN),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Patricia
Craven
(NBRI),
Shirley
Bethune
(MET),
Sem
Shikongo
(MET)
Biosystematics
News
&
Updates:
Top
Marine
and
Coastal
Biodiversity
Group
This
group,
led
by
the
Ministry
of
Fisheries
and
Marine
Resources
(MFMR),
will
integrate
biodiversity
and
ecosystem
criteria
into
existing
marine
and
coastal
environmental
monitoring
activities
and
serve
as
a
forum
for
issues
of
mutual
concern.
The
Benguela
Current
Large
Marine
Ecosystem
(BCLME)
and
Benguela
Environment
Fisheries
Interaction
and
Training
(BENEFIT)
projects
of
Angola,
Namibia
and
South
Africa
will
contribute
considerable
relevant
data
and
expertise.
Members:
Chair:
vacant
Phoebe
Barnard
(NNBP),
Dave
Boyer
(MFMR),
Helen
Boyer
(MFMR),
Rod
Braby
(MET),
Antje
Burke
(EnviroScience),
Bronwen
Currie
(MFMR),
Eryn
Griffin
(NMN),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Hashali
Hamukuaya
(MFMR),
Louise
Le
Roux
(UNAM),
Eugene
Marais
(NMN),
Fergus
Molloy
(UNAM),
Burger
Oelofsen
(MFMR),
Jean-Paul
Roux
(MFMR),
Rob
Simmons
(MET),
Patti
Wickens
(DeBeers
Marine)
Top
Namibian
Long-Term
Ecological
Research
Network
(Na-LTER)
Committee
The
Namibian
Long-Term
Ecological
Research
Network
(Na-LTER)
was
formed
as
a
working
group
of
NNBP
in
August
1999.
A
small
commitee
led
the
initial
development
of
this
network
up
to
a
workshop
held
on
24th
February
2000,
and
this
working
group
is
anticipated
to
grow.
Na-LTER's
purpose
is
that
its
partners
have
increased
capacity
to
provide,
access,
understand
and
use
long-term
ecological
data
and
information
in
Namibia.
This
involves
the
establishment,
operation
and
maintenance
of
a
comprehensive
Namibian
environmental
metadatabase,
as
well
as
the
identifying,
promoting
and
facilitating
the
appropriate
operation
of
research
sites
that
monitor
and
analyse
long-term
and
large-scale
processes.
Na-LTER
is
not
only
connected
to
partner
networks
in
the
SADC
region
and
an
international
network
(ILTER),
but
also
facilitates
the
exchange
of
LTER
knowledge
with
resource
managers,
students
and
decision-makers.
Visit
the
Na-LTER
web
page.
Members:
Chair:
Joh
Henschel
(DRFN)
Phoebe
Barnard
(DEA),
Chris
Brown
(NNF),
Bertus
Kruger
(DRFN),
Rob
Simmons
(DEA),
Ben
Strohbach
(NBRI),
Juliane
Zeidler
(DRFN)
Top
Mountain
Ecosystems
Group
Decades
of
research
on
Namibia's
deserts,
wetlands
and
woodlands
have
identified
the
mountains
of
Namibia's
variable
landscape
as
the
richest
habitats
for
endemic
species.
Many
Namibian
mountains
harbour
some
endemics,
and
some
such
as
our
highest
mountain,
the
Brandberg,
believed
to
hold
mountain-specific
endemic
plants.
The
MEG
has
ranked
a
number
of
Namibia's
named
and
relatively
well
known
mountains
for
the
state
of
biological
knowledge,
seriousness
of
conservation
threats,
and
the
urgency
of
future
studies.
Systematic
surveys
of
biotic
diversity
are
then
encouraged
according
to
these
priorities.
The
work
of
the
Restoration
Ecology
Working
Group
links
strongly
with
this
group,
as
Nama
Karoo
and
Succulent
Karoo
inselbergs
are
known
to
harbour
species
no
longer
found
on
the
sometimes-degraded
rangelands
below.
This
work
has
led
to
the
recommendation
that
Brandberg
and
other
montane
biodiversity
hotspots
should
be
given
greater
protected
status.
Members:
Chair: Rob
Simmons
Phoebe
Barnard
(DEA),
Antje
Burke
(EnviroScience),
Sakkie
Davids
(UNAM),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Joh
Henschel
(DRFN),
Pierre
Smit
(UNAM),
Patricia
Craven
(NBRI),
Eugene
Marais
(NMN)
Top
Invasive
Species
Working
Group
Invasive
alien
species
in
Namibia
are
a
relatively
modest
but
growing
problem.
This
group
was
formed
in
2000
to
address
these
problems
in
terrestrial
and
freshwater
habitats
initially.
Members:
Chair:
Dave
Joubert
(Polytechnic)
Chris
Brown
(NNF),
Clinton
Hay
(HFFI),Tuhafeni
Sheuyange
(NBRI),
Herta
Kolberg
(NBRI),
Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Ben
Strohbach
(NBRI),
Eugene
Marais
(NMN)
Top
Finance
Committee
The
finance
group
allocates
funds
generated
by
the
National
Biodiversity
Programme
to
priority
activities
and
projects.
It
meets
irregularly
as
the
need
arises.
Members:
Chair:
Phoebe
Barnard
Shirley
Bethune
(DEA), Chris
Brown
(NNF), Mike
Griffin
(MET),
Herta
Kolberg
(NBRI), Christa
Schemmer
(NNF), Sem
Shikongo
(DEA),
Helmut
Wöhl
(GTZ)
Top
Information
and
Website
Group
This
small
group
operates
the
Clearing-House
Mechanism
(CHM)
in
Namibia
and
the
Biodiversity
Information
System
databases
linked
to
it.
Members:
Phoebe
Barnard
(NNBP),
Alice
Jarvis
(NNBP),
Tapio
Reinikainen
(InfoCom)
Top
Tree
Atlas
Committee
The
Tree
Atlas
Project
is
run
by
a
small
steering
committee
to
help
shape
its
design,
scope,
and
products.
Its
members
are
botanists,
foresters,
and
biodiversity
scientists
with
experience
of
the
Southern
African
Bird
Atlas
Project,
SABAP.
Members:
Chair:
Gillian
Maggs-Kölling
(NBRI)
Barbara
Curtis
(NBRI
-
Tree
Atlas
Project
manager),
Phoebe
Barnard
(MET),
John
Mendelsohn
(MET),
Chris
Brown
(NNF),
Luise
Hoffmann
(nature
columnist
and
botanist),
Moses
Chakanga
(MET)
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National
Awareness
and
Education
Working
Group
This
group,
formed
in
2000,
is
currently
run
by
Shirley
Bethune
(MET
-
Namibia's
Programme
to
Combat
Desertification)
and
Martha
Kandawa-Schulz
(University
of
Namibia
-
Science
Faculty).
Additional
members
are
sought!
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