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Namibian National Biodiversity Programme

Workgroups

 Details within the programme:

 

 

 

 

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:

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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:

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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)

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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