Namibian Journal of Environment

Freshwater fish as a potential nutritional gap-filler in combating malnutrition in Namibia

V Muunda — 2024-12-06

With Namibia exporting up to 97% of the catch from marine capture fisheries, the small-scale inland fisheries resources have been touted as the community-centred solution towards ensuring food security and alleviating malnutrition in the country. Although efforts have been made over the years to address malnutrition, especially among children, nearly 90% of children under the age of five do not receive the minimum acceptable diets with adequate dietary diversity and meal frequency. Consequently, one in every five children has stunted growth. With monotonic energy-based diets prioritising caloric input over balanced nutrition, Namibian children are often deficient in micronutrients such as vitamins B2, B3, B9, calcium, and iron, all of which are found in high concentrations in freshwater fish. Additionally, fish provide other essential micronutrients such as vitamin B12, zinc, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids that support overall health and growth. Small-sized fish or juveniles of large fish have high concentrations of these essential micronutrients, underscoring the need for further research on fisheries resource utilisation and the nutritional composition of local fish resources which hold significant potential for addressing dietary micronutrient deficiencies. This article aims to discern the potential contribution of freshwater fish in addressing malnutrition, especially amongst vulnerable groups such as children.

Homeward bound: post-translocation homing behaviour of an Angolan giraffe in Namibia

J Fennessy — 2024-09-26

Measuring the short- and long-term success of a translocation is challenging but critical. With increasing artificial movements of wildlife within and between African countries, understanding the results of such translocations is valuable. Translocations are an increasingly common conservation management tool to reverse biodiversity loss through re-populating, augmenting and/or expanding populations, especially for giraffe (Giraffa spp.). In southern Namibia, we used GPS satellite tags to monitor the movement of six Angolan giraffe (G. giraffa angolensis) post-translocation. We report the first known ‘homing behaviour’ of a giraffe post-translocation (155 days and 893.65 km). We hope our results will help guide future large-mammal translocation strategies. Decision making should be based on shared knowledge, and increasing our understanding of translocation efforts is key.

A preliminary botanical assessment of an isolated inselberg archipelago in the Namib Sand Sea, Namibia

S Hatt — 2024-09-20

The inselbergs of the Namib Desert serve as biodiversity refugia in a matrix of largely depauperate gravel plains or sand dunes. Despite their ecological importance and expected species richness, the biota of most Namib inselbergs has not been surveyed. An isolated and previously unexplored inselberg archipelago in the northeastern corner of the Namib Sand Sea was visited in December 2023. A preliminary botanical assessment recorded 42 plant species across three inselberg sites. The floristic survey was conducted by walk-over assessments and capturing photographic records that were uploaded to iNaturalist for public access. Euphorbia Koppie exhibited the highest diversity at 38 species, attributed primarily to its larger size and habitat heterogeneity, while the smaller Commiphora Koppie and Owl Koppie recorded 16 and 14 species respectively. Frequently recorded species across all three sites include Commiphora saxicola, Cleome angustifolia subsp. diandra, Caroxylon sp., Euphorbia glanduligera, Tephrosia dregeana, Tetraena cylindrifolia and Stipagrostis ciliata. This survey contributes valuable baseline data for future biodiversity assessments and conservation efforts in the Central Namib Desert at a time of increasing threat from tourism, infrastructure development, mineral prospecting, poaching and mining activities.

Burchell's Courser Cursorius rufus, Gould 1837, in Namibia: biometric and moult data, plumage and criteria for the determination of age

U Bryson — 2024-09-23

This is the first comprehensive study on moult and plumage of Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus). Biometric measurements are few, the moult strategy is undocumented and detailed depiction is scarce. As bird ringers, we have the unique opportunity to observe these aspects closely while handling live birds, providing valuable insights. We add the measurements from our study to other available measurements and present moult observations of seven Burchell’s Coursers from Namibia, of two age groups. Drawing on our own observations, existing literature, and public photographs, we aim to improve the understanding of plumage characteristics crucial for age determination during observation and ringing activities. We provide detailed descriptions of the plumage and moult variability across different age groups, highlighting similarities with the closely related Temminck’s Courser (Cursorius temminckii) and the Cream-coloured Courser (Cursorius cursor). We illustrate non-described features of the juvenile and the post-juvenile plumage and discuss the challenging aspects, mainly of primary moult of adults and first-year birds, emphasising the need for further research in this area.

Drinking and bathing behaviour of raptors in an arid, warm environment: Insights from a long-term camera trapping study in Namibia

CGW Adam — 2024-12-10

Raptors are thought to obtain much of their water from their food as pre-formed and metabolic water, and therefore not by drinking. However, there are few publications about their behaviour at waterholes to test this idea. This study analysed 6 291 camera trap observations of raptors over 11 years at waterholes in a game reserve located in the warm, arid environment of north-central Namibia. Of 45 species recorded in the area, 12 were never recorded at water, whereas another 13 species were recorded 100 or more times at water. While there, raptors spent most time drinking, standing in the water, or bathing. Diurnal raptors usually visited water in the middle – and heat – of the day while owls were present throughout the night. Most visits to water were between May and November which were the driest months of the year. We found a strong inverse correlation (p < 0.0001) between the number of visits and the relative humidity in that month, suggesting that water balance is an important factor driving this behaviour. In general, these findings indicate that many raptors make much greater and seasonally changing use of water than is commonly assumed and appear to do so to help meet their physiological needs for water and thermoregulation. Many other raptors, for example most falcons and kestrels, however, have little or no need for drinking or bathing, begging answers to questions about why and how these differences and variations exist. This study also raises questions about how raptors that visit water frequently will respond to increasing heat and aridity.

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) in southern Africa: history, principles, evolution and contemporary challenges

M Foyet — 2024-08-16

Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is arguably the most important tool for simultaneously driving rural development and improving community livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in Southern Africa. However, persistent challenges prompt a crucial inquiry: what strategies can ensure CBNRM’s relevance in reconciling the competing demands of development and conservation while guaranteeing fair benefit-sharing among local communities and achieving sustainable conservation outcomes?

If the region is to continue its success story as an African anomaly, it will have to (i) close the gaps in digital access and readiness which threaten to hold it back; (ii) skilfully manage its transition to sustainable local funding mechanisms, alternative biodiversity markets and robust equitable benefit distribution schemes; (iii) adeptly navigate power dynamics and cultural sensitivities on the global stage; and, in its avant-gardist and pioneering spirit, (iv) boldly address critically overlooked mental health aspects within conservation in rural settings. This essay, therefore, explores the evolution, principles, and application of CBNRM across the region, set against a backdrop of historical exploitation and exclusionary practices. By examining the roots of CBNRM in indigenous stewardship, its development through colonial and post-colonial periods, and its contemporary challenges and opportunities, the paper argues for a shift from the traditional dichotomous view of natural resource management to an alternative perspective encompassing the dynamic and complex nature of managing natural resources in a way that is socially equitable, economically viable, and ecologically sustainable.

Drawing on previous studies and recent interviews conducted in Southern Africa, this paper adopts a methodological approach that combines critical discourse analysis with a thorough review of the literature to highlight the connection between CBNRM and formal (state apparatus) and informal (Web 3.0, social media) institutions and their role in shaping modern rural development. The analytical framework of the paper is firmly anchored in the Common Property Resource (CPR) theory. Overall, I contend that the goals of biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, rural development, and sustainable natural resource use are intertwined and mutually reinforcing in the quest to improve community well-being and protect biocultural heritage. Central to the analysis is the hypothesis that communities will actively manage their environment when the benefits outweigh the costs, suggesting that devolving management rights and responsibilities to local communities leads to better conservation outcomes because of their direct interest in the sustainability of resources. The future of CBNRM in southern Africa is presented as promising yet contingent on embracing innovations such as the utilisation of artificial intelligence, and the potential of social media for policy decision-making. To achieve its full potential, CBNRM must be supported by strong legal and policy frameworks, greater community engagement, and international partnerships that foster knowledge exchange and resource mobilisation. Ultimately, findings indicate that, despite its challenges, CBNRM offers a sustainable pathway for reconciling conservation and community development, underscoring the importance of continued exploration, support, and refinement of this model to ensure its success in fostering an equitable and sustainable present and future for southern Africa's socio-economic and ecological landscape.

Examining rural livelihoods relevant to human-lion conflict interventions within the communal conservancies of the Kunene Region, Namibia

J Heydinger — 2024-12-09

In the Kunene Region of northwest Namibia, desert-adapted lion (Panthera leo) numbers increased from the late 1990s to 2015. They have since declined by as much as two-thirds. This is primarily as a result of lions killed following human-lion conflict (HLC) incidents, within communal conservancy lands. HLC and conflict with other predators threatens pastoralists’ already-tenuous livelihoods, eroding the economic instrumentalism pillar of the conservancy system. Our survey quantitatively and qualitatively examined pastoralists’ livelihoods, perceptions of lions, and the efficacy of recently implemented HLC interventions in core lion range conservancies; it is a follow-up to a previous survey (Heydinger et al. 2019). Results show that livestock losses over the past decade likely exceed 80%. These losses are overwhelmingly attributed to the effects of drought and predators. Lions are considered the most problematic species, with 57% of respondents holding negative attitudes towards lions, while 84% say they do not benefit from having lions in their conservancy. Yet, problems with other predators, such as spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) and black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), are more widespread. The effects of HLC interventions, including Lion Rangers, human-wildlife conflict Rapid Response Teams, an early-warning system, and predator-proof livestock enclosures (kraals), are not uniformly experienced and show no unequivocal improvement in respondents’ attitudes towards lions. Results are discussed in the context of supporting pastoralists’ livelihoods, and as part of an ongoing process for strengthening HLC interventions for the conservation of lions and other carnivores on communal lands.

Caves and their fauna in the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia

D de Matos — 2023-12-15

Several landscapes in the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia (HEAN) have karstic regions with caves. Within the Northern Escarpment in Angola there are two main karstic regions. The first one includes the northern caves associated with a tropical climate and mostly concentrated in Ambuíla, Uíge Province. The second region comprises caves near the Atlantic coast, which are linked to underground flows of the Cambongo-Negunza River. An additional cluster of caves is on the Humpata Plateau and its edges within Angola’s Marginal Mountain Chain landscape. Most caves in Namibia are in the Karstveld and Khomas Hochland Plateau landscapes in karstic areas of relatively high rainfall. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the history of cave exploration, sites and fauna documented in them. We report on the fauna recorded during surveys in 2010 and 2018–2021 in the southern karst around Humpata, Huíla Province; and summarise information available on fauna from Namibia. Most species recorded in Angolan caves are trogloxene taxa observed or collected in cave sediments. Namibian caves house a diversity of invertebrates, many of which are endemic or likely to be endemic to Namibia and the HEAN. Two endemic fish in underground lakes in Namibia are critically endangered. This study emphasises the need for further field research and for strategies to conserve caves and their faunas in both countries.

Mammal endemism in the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia

AF Palmeirim — 2023-12-15

The highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia (HEAN) consist of a series of high-elevation plateaus, escarpment ridges and inselbergs. They are known for their increased capacity to promote speciation and species persistence, but the importance of this area as an endemism centre for mammals remains poorly documented. Here we describe the endemic and near-endemic mammalian taxa occurring in the HEAN. Based on a literature search, we were able to confirm 12 endemic, 13 possible endemic and 20 near-endemic mammalian taxa, of which 28 are species, 10 are possible undescribed (new) species, and 7 are subspecies. Rodents showed the highest endemism (28 taxa), followed by bats (6 taxa), with only a few other mammalian orders being represented by endemic species here: two carnivores, two bovids, one odd-toed ungulate, two shrews, one sengi, two primates and one hyrax. Most of these endemic mammals have their distribution concentrated in the Angolan section of the HEAN. However, there are considerable knowledge gaps due to the lack of mammal surveys in large parts of the region, in addition to a lack of taxonomic studies utilising modern techniques. As such, new species of bats, rodents and shrews are expected to be documented in the years ahead. Given the alarmingly rapid loss of native habitats in the region, and to avoid losing the unique biological heritage of the HEAN, we recommend the enforcement of regulations protecting native habitat relicts.

Fishes of the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia

PH Skelton — 2023-12-15

The fishes of the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia (HEAN) are described broadly and a brief biogeographical explanation sketched. The fishes of this region are poorly documented in the literature and few records are available. Species of the families Kneriidae, Mormyridae, Cyprinidae, Danionidae, Amphiliidae, Clariidae, Mochokidae, Cichlidae and Mastacembelidae are highlighted and noted. An extraordinary radiation of Labeobarbus in the Cuanza River is a distinct feature. Two river systems in western Angola and Namibia, the Cuanza and the Cunene, extend from the interior down the escarpment to the coast and their fish faunas are considerably enriched. Affinities of the various taxa are pointed out including signature links with the southern Congo River basin, and East Africa. West African connections via the coast or the Congo Basin are sparse. West Zambezian faunal links are strongest but generally restricted to elements that favour rocky environments. The fishes of typical Kalahari sand systems, such as floodplains and swamps, are absent. Isolated and fragmented distributions of certain elements attest to relict situations indicative of early, more favourable, widespread distributions.