|
Opuwo
Communal farmers at Otjerunda, Okatumba and Ombombo villlages in Kunene region have lost hope of a good harvest due to elephants that are destroying their crops at night, and some farmers will not harvest anything due to the extent of destruction this year.
Some farmers lost crops crops valued at 15 000 N$. The affedted farmers suggested that the government should speed up the erection of the promised electrical fence so as to prevent elephants from entering their fields and that the government sould consider compensating farmers for the lost crop.
The problem is apparent to this region and is a seious devastating household economic loss. The same community is now undergoing a process of forming a conservancy but this will take a bit of time as there are boundary disputes with neighbouring conservancies. The loss will then continue to outwight gains from natural resources as it should be the opposite.
Based on the their recommendations above, communities are very eager to involve in conservation as long as they are gaining something out of it than losses.
How do we harmonise the system here to boost protection of our valuable biodiversity?
Please help |
Many countries have had great success with deterring elephants via growing
chillies (elephants hate the smell of capsicum found in chillies). Visit
http://www.elephantpepper.org/
Chillies can also be sold as a cash crop - either in their natural state or
made into sauces and sold.
Apparently elephants also don't like the sound of bees, so having a couple
of hives around the fields also deters them.
Kenyan elephants, apparently, don't like the colour red.
You can also contact Justin.ORiain@uct.ac.za for more assistance.
"...to prevent animals from entering into an area (e.g. maize field) by
burning bricks laced with capsicum or impregnating sheets with capsicum that
are then hung around the area you want to protect.".
Good luck.
Wendy Fourie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Uriokwao Matundu" <urimatundu@yahoo.com>
To: "General Discussion" <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:12 PM
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
>
> Opuwo
>
> Communal farmers at Otjerunda, Okatumba and Ombombo villlages in Kunene
> region have lost hope of a good harvest due to elephants that are
> destroying their crops at night, and some farmers will not harvest
> anything due to the extent of destruction this year.
> Some farmers lost crops crops valued at 15 000 N$. The affedted farmers
> suggested that the government should speed up the erection of the promised
> electrical fence so as to prevent elephants from entering their fields and
> that the government sould consider compensating farmers for the lost crop.
>
> The problem is apparent to this region and is a seious devastating
> household economic loss. The same community is now undergoing a process of
> forming a conservancy but this will take a bit of time as there are
> boundary disputes with neighbouring conservancies. The loss will then
> continue to outwight gains from natural resources as it should be the
> opposite.
>
> Based on the their recommendations above, communities are very eager to
> involve in conservation as long as they are gaining something out of it
> than losses.
>
> How do we harmonise the system here to boost protection of our valuable
> biodiversity?
>
> Please help |
I you have access to the internet, have a look at this website:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-3YSXD92-9&_user=3034275&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000059515&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=3034275&md5=b349f16da6bca48ca6613f672ac95bae
"Living with the modern conservation paradigm: can agricultural communities
co-exist with elephants? A five-year case study in East Caprivi, Namibia"
-----Original Message-----
From: Uriokwao Matundu [mailto:urimatundu@yahoo.com]
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
Opuwo
Communal farmers at Otjerunda, Okatumba and Ombombo villlages in Kunene
region have lost hope of a good harvest due to elephants that are destroying
their crops at night, and some farmers will not harvest anything due to the
extent of destruction this year.
Some farmers lost crops crops valued at 15 000 N$. The affedted farmers
suggested that the government should speed up the erection of the promised
electrical fence so as to prevent elephants from entering their fields and
that the government sould consider compensating farmers for the lost crop.
The problem is apparent to this region and is a seious devastating household
economic loss. The same community is now undergoing a process of forming a
conservancy but this will take a bit of time as there are boundary disputes
with neighbouring conservancies. The loss will then continue to outwight
gains from natural resources as it should be the opposite.
Based on the their recommendations above, communities are very eager to
involve in conservation as long as they are gaining something out of it than
losses.
How do we harmonise the system here to boost protection of our valuable
biodiversity?
Please help |
There was a report a few years ago that subsistence farmers were growing red
hot chili peppers amongst their crops to discourage elephants and that it
worked. Maybe someone has more accurate details.
______________________________________________
Dr L. Jacobson Tel: 053-839-2703
McGregor Museum Fax: 053-842-1433
P.O.Box 316 email: jake@museumsnc.co.za
8300 Kimberley
South Africa
Web page:
http://www.museumsnc.co.za/aboutus/depts/archaeometry/archaeometry.html
"Those who steal from private individuals spend their lives
in stocks and chains: those who steal from the public treasure
go dressed in gold and purple"
Cato the Censor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Uriokwao Matundu" <urimatundu@yahoo.com>
To: "General Discussion" <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:12 PM
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
Opuwo
Communal farmers at Otjerunda, Okatumba and Ombombo villlages in Kunene
region have lost hope of a good harvest due to elephants that are destroying
their crops at night, and some farmers will not harvest anything due to the
extent of destruction this year.
Some farmers lost crops crops valued at 15 000 N$. The affedted farmers
suggested that the government should speed up the erection of the promised
electrical fence so as to prevent elephants from entering their fields and
that the government sould consider compensating farmers for the lost crop.
The problem is apparent to this region and is a seious devastating household
economic loss. The same community is now undergoing a process of forming a
conservancy but this will take a bit of time as there are boundary disputes
with neighbouring conservancies. The loss will then continue to outwight
gains from natural resources as it should be the opposite.
Based on the their recommendations above, communities are very eager to
involve in conservation as long as they are gaining something out of it than
losses.
How do we harmonise the system here to boost protection of our valuable
biodiversity?
Please help |
UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme in Namibia funded a project (or more)
exactly on this issue. Experience, lessons learned, and possible funding
opportunities should be found out from the Programme Coordinator. They are
hosted in NNF office in Windhoek, Namibia.
Akiko
-----Original Message-----
From: Leon Jacobson [mailto:jake@museumsnc.co.za]
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 9:42 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
There was a report a few years ago that subsistence farmers were growing red
hot chili peppers amongst their crops to discourage elephants and that it
worked. Maybe someone has more accurate details.
______________________________________________
Dr L. Jacobson Tel: 053-839-2703
McGregor Museum Fax: 053-842-1433
P.O.Box 316 email: jake@museumsnc.co.za
8300 Kimberley
South Africa
Web page:
http://www.museumsnc.co.za/aboutus/depts/archaeometry/archaeometry.html |
Is this what you're referring to:
SGP NAMIBIA
c/o Namibia Nature Foundation, P.O. Box 245, Windhoek, Africa 9000
Phone: +264 61 248345
Fax: +264 61 248344
Email: ng@nnf.org.na
Web: http://www.nnf.org.na
Reducing Human-Elephant Conflicts in the #Khoadi //Hoas (Elephants' Corner)
Conservancy (NAM-03-01)
Country: NAMIBIA
Grantee: #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy - none (Community Based Organization)
Focal Area: Biodiversity
Op. Program: OP1 - Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems
Project Type: Full
Operational Phase: Phase 2
Dates: 8/2003 - 7/2005
Grant Amount: 20 843,00 USD
Project Status: Satisfactorily Completed
Project Types:
Project Details & Results
The project seeks to assist the Community-based conservancy in the
semi-desert northwestern Namibia in the Kunune Region to address the
longstanding conflcit between desert-dwelling elephants and the livestock
farmers. The conflict revolves around water.
Elepant populations have grown as result of conservnation efforts by
government, NGOs and local communties. This leads to competetion for scarce
water resources between livestock and domestic use on one side, and
elephants on the other. In this process, elephants damage water
instalations, kill livestock and occassionally take human lives leading to a
lot of inconvenience to livestock famring communities.
The project seeks to build specially tailor-made "elephants only" drinking
places away household waterpoints. This will reduce interaction between
human, their livestock and elephants.
Notable Community Participation
Very high.
Project Results
18 community game guards were trained on how to monitor elephants and how to
use data forms. Construction of 7 water point sites was completed and are
now fully operational.
-----Original Message-----
From: Akiko Yamamoto [mailto:akiko.yamamoto@undp.org]
Sent: 14 May 2008 11:09 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme in Namibia funded a project (or more)
exactly on this issue. Experience, lessons learned, and possible funding
opportunities should be found out from the Programme Coordinator. They are
hosted in NNF office in Windhoek, Namibia.
Akiko |
In The Namibian there was an article about the Minister of Environment and
Tourism addressing the matter in parliament. The MET is working mitigating
and compensation schemes/ approaches. It will be good to hear what they
plan, how far they are and what their timelines are. I am sure they will (or
should) draw on the best practices and lessons from the UNDP/GEF SGP
project.
-----Original Message-----
From: Akiko Yamamoto [mailto:akiko.yamamoto@undp.org]
Sent: 14 May 2008 10:09
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme in Namibia funded a project (or more)
exactly on this issue. Experience, lessons learned, and possible funding
opportunities should be found out from the Programme Coordinator. They are
hosted in NNF office in Windhoek, Namibia.
Akiko |
You could also have a look at the report developed by John Hanks on
Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation in KAZA TFCA...this can be found
under "Key Documents" in http://www.conservation-southernafrica.org.
Leo Braack
Director: Southern Africa Wilderness & Transfrontier Conservation
Programmes
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
Tel: +27 (0)21 799 8829
Fax: +27 (0)21 797 5960
Cell: 082 808 9659
L.Braack@conservation.org
Centre for Biodiversity Conservation
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
P/Bag X7
Claremont 7735
SOUTH AFRICA
http://www.conservation-southernafrica.org
|
Yes, thank you for providing details to the Dlisters. A
-----Original Message-----
From: Estelle Fleidl [mailto:estellef@novanam.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:42 PM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
Is this what you're referring to:
SGP NAMIBIA
c/o Namibia Nature Foundation, P.O. Box 245, Windhoek, Africa 9000
Phone: +264 61 248345
Fax: +264 61 248344
Email: ng@nnf.org.na
Web: http://www.nnf.org.na
Reducing Human-Elephant Conflicts in the #Khoadi //Hoas (Elephants' Corner)
Conservancy (NAM-03-01)
Country: NAMIBIA
Grantee: #Khoadi //Hoas Conservancy - none (Community Based Organization)
Focal Area: Biodiversity
Op. Program: OP1 - Arid and Semi-Arid Ecosystems
Project Type: Full
Operational Phase: Phase 2
Dates: 8/2003 - 7/2005
Grant Amount: 20 843,00 USD
Project Status: Satisfactorily Completed
Project Types:
Project Details & Results
The project seeks to assist the Community-based conservancy in the
semi-desert northwestern Namibia in the Kunune Region to address the
longstanding conflcit between desert-dwelling elephants and the livestock
farmers. The conflict revolves around water.
Elepant populations have grown as result of conservnation efforts by
government, NGOs and local communties. This leads to competetion for scarce
water resources between livestock and domestic use on one side, and
elephants on the other. In this process, elephants damage water
instalations, kill livestock and occassionally take human lives leading to a
lot of inconvenience to livestock famring communities.
The project seeks to build specially tailor-made "elephants only" drinking
places away household waterpoints. This will reduce interaction between
human, their livestock and elephants.
Notable Community Participation
Very high.
Project Results
18 community game guards were trained on how to monitor elephants and how to
use data forms. Construction of 7 water point sites was completed and are
now fully operational. |
Kasika Conservancy on Impalila Island carried out the elephant-chilli pepper
project:
http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/7282/problem_animal_management_in_kasika_conservancy.html
..
It seemed to be successful and they were using the peppers in conjunction
with traditional methods such as placing cord/string with bells around crops
and banging drums at night to scare away the elephants. The
Conservancy had discussed making the peppers into chilli jam which could be
sold to fund their problem animal control efforts on an ongoing basis, as I
believe is also done at sites in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The IRDNC office
in Katima Mulilo would be a good contact to follow up with on the current
status.
Another HWC project in Namibia funded by the SGP was Nyae Nyae Conservancy's
elephant-proof fencing for water points :
http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/8587/water_development_and_minimising_elephant_human_conflict.html.
One of the interesting findings of this project was the relationship between
water availability and schooling -- when the water points were knocked over,
children went home for the year and given great distances would not travel
back to complete the terms. The elephant-proofing thus had a great impact on
number of day's school attendance for the year. The Nyae Nyae Development
office in Windhoek would have up-to-date information on this project's
status.
You can search from
http://sgp.undp.org/index.cfm?module=Projects&page=AdvancedSearch to find
additional HWC project funded by GEF small grants throughout the region. The
Namibian coordinator, Nickey //Gaseb, can be reached at ng@nnf.org.na and
will have updated information on the projects that I mentioned and their
(more current) lessons.
|
I am very much impressed by responses am getting and I will try my best to make sure that this information reaches the affected communities. I am currently running an environmental radio programme for the mentioned region and I will use this platform to convey this information to the entire Kunene region.
The radio programme is an innitiative of DLIST aimed at conveying Conservation and environmental management related information as people do not have access to computers and modern IT equipment in Kunene.
Yours in Conservation
Uri Matundu
----- Original Message ----
From: Jessica Jones <jlkjones@gmail.com>
To: General Discussion <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:39:12 PM
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
Kasika Conservancy on Impalila Island carried out the elephant-chilli pepper
project:
http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/7282/problem_animal_management_in_kasika_conservancy.html
..
It seemed to be successful and they were using the peppers in conjunction
with traditional methods such as placing cord/string with bells around crops
and banging drums at night to scare away the elephants. The
Conservancy had discussed making the peppers into chilli jam which could be
sold to fund their problem animal control efforts on an ongoing basis, as I
believe is also done at sites in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The IRDNC office
in Katima Mulilo would be a good contact to follow up with on the current
status.
Another HWC project in Namibia funded by the SGP was Nyae Nyae Conservancy's
elephant-proof fencing for water points :
http://sgp.undp.org/web/projects/8587/water_development_and_minimising_elephant_human_conflict.html.
One of the interesting findings of this project was the relationship between
water availability and schooling -- when the water points were knocked over,
children went home for the year and given great distances would not travel
back to complete the terms. The elephant-proofing thus had a great impact on
number of day's school attendance for the year. The Nyae Nyae Development
office in Windhoek would have up-to-date information on this project's
status.
You can search from
http://sgp.undp.org/index.cfm?module=Projects&page=AdvancedSearch to find
additional HWC project funded by GEF small grants throughout the region. The
Namibian coordinator, Nickey //Gaseb, can be reached at ng@nnf.org.na and
will have updated information on the projects that I mentioned and their
(more current) lessons. |
The responses were indeed very good. Most contributors referred to project
reports/ documents. Are these in a language intelligible for local
communities or are they meant for the more academically inclined. If the
info is required at ground level it should be presented in such a manner.
It is one thing I've noticed about community-focused/ rural devt projects.
Many produce excellent information about their work (replicable approaches,
best practices, lessons learned) but there's many a time the shortcoming of
not diversifying knowledge and information material for use by local
communities and practitioners. Just a thought! As far as possible I always
encourage projects to not only solidly budget for the glossy reports, but
also for the diversification of information material to reach more people.
After all, who are we advocating to.
-----Original Message-----
From: Uriokwao Matundu [mailto:urimatundu@yahoo.com]
Sent: 15 May 2008 09:21
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
I am very much impressed by responses am getting and I will try my best to
make sure that this information reaches the affected communities. I am
currently running an environmental radio programme for the mentioned region
and I will use this platform to convey this information to the entire Kunene
region.
The radio programme is an innitiative of DLIST aimed at conveying
Conservation and environmental management related information as people do
not have access to computers and modern IT equipment in Kunene.
Yours in Conservation
Uri Matundu |
yes, talking about the SGP funded projects, many of them have strong community participation and as such the outcome of such projects that is presented in this reports reflects those activities that the communities are taking part to the donor and other audiences. SGP has also other strategies such as the stakeholder workshops where they bring projects that were funded through it to share their projects, lessons learned, best practices etc with each other.
Many other projects do not do this and maybe donor communities and organisations should encourage project people to share this type of information with project people in an easiliy understandable way. Yes, we should step our efforts in sharing this information with general public in a most effective ways. I can think of using a radio to share outcomes, lessons learned and best practices with the general audience
"Nico E. Willemse" <versacon@iway.na> wrote:
The responses were indeed very good. Most contributors referred to project
reports/ documents. Are these in a language intelligible for local
communities or are they meant for the more academically inclined. If the
info is required at ground level it should be presented in such a manner.
It is one thing I've noticed about community-focused/ rural devt projects.
Many produce excellent information about their work (replicable approaches,
best practices, lessons learned) but there's many a time the shortcoming of
not diversifying knowledge and information material for use by local
communities and practitioners. Just a thought! As far as possible I always
encourage projects to not only solidly budget for the glossy reports, but
also for the diversification of information material to reach more people.
After all, who are we advocating to.
|
Your role to bridge web-based communications and communication via radio is
so so important for DLIST's future and its potential to reach communities
who need and benefit from the information most.
Thank you for your good work!
Akiko
-----Original Message-----
From: Uriokwao Matundu [mailto:urimatundu@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:21 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
I am very much impressed by responses am getting and I will try my best to
make sure that this information reaches the affected communities. I am
currently running an environmental radio programme for the mentioned region
and I will use this platform to convey this information to the entire Kunene
region.
The radio programme is an innitiative of DLIST aimed at conveying
Conservation and environmental management related information as people do
not have access to computers and modern IT equipment in Kunene.
Yours in Conservation
Uri Matundu |
It seems chilli peppers do work in chasing away elephants from human settlements. However, I would like to know whether this elephant problem is a seasonal one or not? To my understanding elephants tend to migrate as seasons change; which they do following their ancient migration paths, with Namibia having the most migratory elephants (travelling great distances). It could be possible that we now have villages blocking those path(s), hence the attacks.
Or we now have a huge elephant population that is becoming a problem to people, thanks to conservation efforts.
However, I think we also need to reconsider the planning and location of our villages and take into consideration wildlife. Because, for as long as we continue venturing and reducing the size of the elephants habitat then we will certainly have these Human Elephant Conflicts. Which I am afraid some of them will be very fatal.
Uri, I like the idea you mention here of relaying information from this online discussion to people in the remote Kunene region, through radio is an interesting one indeed.I agree with Nico we need to have information from these researches put in "layman's terms" rather than having these dry-like dust academic papers that people wont understand. |
Dear Friends and colleagues,
RE: Giant Biotech Companies File Hundreds of “Climate Genes”
The world's largest seed and agrochemical corporations have filed hundreds
of patents on genes in plants that the companies will market as crops
genetically engineered (GE) to withstand environmental stresses associated
with climate change including drought, heat, cold, floods, saline soils.
According to the Canada-based civil society organization ETC Group in its
report giant “Patenting ‘Climate Genes’...And Capturing the Climate Agenda”,
seed and chemical corporations such as Monsanto, BASF, DuPont, Syngenta,
Bayer and Dow and their affiliates have filed 532 patent documents on genes
related to environmental stress tolerance at patent offices around the world
in the past five years. A few dozen patents have been issued while hundreds
more are still pending.
The report warns that the promise of so-called "climate-ready" GE crops to
address climate chaos and the current food crisis is more of an attempt to
cash in on the crises faced worldwide and to make GE crops more acceptable
especially in countries where they face resistance. ETC is also concerned
that patents will concentrate corporate power, drive up costs, inhibit
independent research and further undermine the rights of farmers to save and
exchange seeds.
The full report is available at:
http://www.etcgroup.org/en/materials/publications.html?pub_id=687
With best wishes,
Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister,
10400 Penang,
Malaysia
Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
Website: http://www.biosafety-info.net and http://www.twnside.org.sg
|
Does anyone out there know what effect rotenone has on invertebrates? See the article below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experts slam plan to poison fish
By Helen Bamford
Conservationists, anglers and scientists are up in arms over plans by CapeNature to poison four rivers to get rid of invasive alien fish like trout and bass.
They fear poisoning the rivers will not only kill off the alien fish but could result in a mass extermination of all endemic insect and aquatic species in the rivers and devastate the fragile eco-systems.
CapeNature has embarked on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to look at the best methods of eradicating alien fish, and has indicated that a poison called Rotenone is the preferred option.
But Bill Bainbridge, chairperson of the Federation of Southern African Flyfishers, said they were concerned about the use of Rotenone, a poison that affected all organisms, including humans.
'We want to turn the clock back'
"It is a shotgun approach that kills everything in its path so we need to know beforehand what the implications are and how it will affect the long-term rehabilitation of the rivers," he said.
Alien fish like trout and smallmouth bass were introduced more than 100 years ago to cater to the lucrative flyfishing industry, which attracts anglers from all over the world.
CapeNature has identified the Krom, the Suurvlei and the Rondegat rivers in the Cederberg and the Krom River in the Eastern Cape where it believes alien fish should be eradicated, and anglers are concerned about which rivers could be next.
If the EIA gives the go-ahead for Rotenone, action could start next summer.
Writing in Piscator, the journal of the Cape Piscatorial Society, CapeNature's Dean Impson, in charge of freshwater conservation, says worldwide invasive alien fish have "significantly contributed to the decline of most, if not all, indigenous fishes through competition, predation and hybridisation and often are the greatest dangers to their conservation".
'It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts'
He makes the case for the use of Rotenone, saying it has been used successfully in the United States and Spain.
Impson says if they could get rid of the invasive aliens in the rivers, many would once again be pristine.
"We want to turn the clock back."
But Leonard Flemming, a microbiology PhD student, said the proposed poisoning was simply an experiment by CapeNature for the future use of the poison in other rivers.
The EIA had been under way for about six months but it appeared as if the outcome had been pre-decided. He slammed the process as unethical.
From an environmental perspective it was a "radical move that could devastate the eco-system".
In a different article in the journal, Flemming also raises that question of why CapeNature is not focusing on habitat destruction which he says is the major cause of diminishing indigenous fish populations.
One example was the bulldozing of the river bed in the Driehoeks River in the Cederberg to build new weirs and campsites, which had threatened a healthy population of spawning Clanwilliam yellowfish and sawfin.
Yet when he bought it to the attention of CapeNature, it was indifferent.
Also involved in the debate via the angling magazine Flyfishing, Peter Thorpe, aquatic scientist and graduate of the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, recounts how he was forced to sell his farm on the Salt River near Plettenberg Bay when Impson vetoed his plans to stock his river with sterilised trout in case they eliminated aquatic insects.
Thorpe had planned to use income from fly-fishing clients to clear alien vegetation choking the area.
But when he was told he would have to undertake a three-year EIA he was forced to sell up.
In his article Thorpe questions whether CapeNature and its officials "have no shame".
"Rotenone will transform the Krom into an underwater desert, impacting on every element of the food chain, possibly permanently exterminating rare dragon- and damselfly species," he writes.
Questions have now been raised as to why, if Thorpe's application was turned down, CapeNature can justify the destruction of aquatic insects in the Krom.
But Impson says the concentration of Rotenone required to kill trout wouldn't necessarily kill off all other aquatic invertebrates.
"It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts. In the worst-case scenario there would be an aquatic desert for a few months but a year later there would be lots more aquatic invertebrates."
He also dismissed as a "sensationalist statement" claims that the Salt River was now "ruined".
"Apart from eels it was a fishless river - a unique river system with aquatic invertebrates swimming happily."
These would have been eaten by the trout.
Impson added that a comprehensive EIA would be done before any action was taken because the World Bank, which is supplying the funding, demands it.
a.. This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on May 10, 2008 |
I used rotenone extensively as a sample tool for more than 10 years while
doing freshwater fish research in Namibia. In my opinion it has no effect
on invertebrates
Ben van zyl
-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Ter Morshuizen [mailto:leslie@aquaafrica.co.za]
Sent: 19 May 2008 09:51
To: General Discussion
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Experts slam plan to poison fish
Does anyone out there know what effect rotenone has on invertebrates? See
the article below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Experts slam plan to poison fish
By Helen Bamford
Conservationists, anglers and scientists are up in arms over plans by
CapeNature to poison four rivers to get rid of invasive alien fish like
trout and bass.
They fear poisoning the rivers will not only kill off the alien fish but
could result in a mass extermination of all endemic insect and aquatic
species in the rivers and devastate the fragile eco-systems.
CapeNature has embarked on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to look
at the best methods of eradicating alien fish, and has indicated that a
poison called Rotenone is the preferred option.
But Bill Bainbridge, chairperson of the Federation of Southern African
Flyfishers, said they were concerned about the use of Rotenone, a poison
that affected all organisms, including humans.
'We want to turn the clock back'
"It is a shotgun approach that kills everything in its path so we need to
know beforehand what the implications are and how it will affect the
long-term rehabilitation of the rivers," he said.
Alien fish like trout and smallmouth bass were introduced more than 100
years ago to cater to the lucrative flyfishing industry, which attracts
anglers from all over the world.
CapeNature has identified the Krom, the Suurvlei and the Rondegat rivers in
the Cederberg and the Krom River in the Eastern Cape where it believes alien
fish should be eradicated, and anglers are concerned about which rivers
could be next.
If the EIA gives the go-ahead for Rotenone, action could start next summer.
Writing in Piscator, the journal of the Cape Piscatorial Society,
CapeNature's Dean Impson, in charge of freshwater conservation, says
worldwide invasive alien fish have "significantly contributed to the decline
of most, if not all, indigenous fishes through competition, predation and
hybridisation and often are the greatest dangers to their conservation".
'It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts'
He makes the case for the use of Rotenone, saying it has been used
successfully in the United States and Spain.
Impson says if they could get rid of the invasive aliens in the rivers, many
would once again be pristine.
"We want to turn the clock back."
But Leonard Flemming, a microbiology PhD student, said the proposed
poisoning was simply an experiment by CapeNature for the future use of the
poison in other rivers.
The EIA had been under way for about six months but it appeared as if the
outcome had been pre-decided. He slammed the process as unethical.
From an environmental perspective it was a "radical move that could
devastate the eco-system".
In a different article in the journal, Flemming also raises that question of
why CapeNature is not focusing on habitat destruction which he says is the
major cause of diminishing indigenous fish populations.
One example was the bulldozing of the river bed in the Driehoeks River in
the Cederberg to build new weirs and campsites, which had threatened a
healthy population of spawning Clanwilliam yellowfish and sawfin.
Yet when he bought it to the attention of CapeNature, it was indifferent.
Also involved in the debate via the angling magazine Flyfishing, Peter
Thorpe, aquatic scientist and graduate of the JLB Smith Institute of
Ichthyology at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, recounts how he was forced
to sell his farm on the Salt River near Plettenberg Bay when Impson vetoed
his plans to stock his river with sterilised trout in case they eliminated
aquatic insects.
Thorpe had planned to use income from fly-fishing clients to clear alien
vegetation choking the area.
But when he was told he would have to undertake a three-year EIA he was
forced to sell up.
In his article Thorpe questions whether CapeNature and its officials "have
no shame".
"Rotenone will transform the Krom into an underwater desert, impacting on
every element of the food chain, possibly permanently exterminating rare
dragon- and damselfly species," he writes.
Questions have now been raised as to why, if Thorpe's application was turned
down, CapeNature can justify the destruction of aquatic insects in the Krom.
But Impson says the concentration of Rotenone required to kill trout
wouldn't necessarily kill off all other aquatic invertebrates.
"It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts. In the worst-case scenario
there would be an aquatic desert for a few months but a year later there
would be lots more aquatic invertebrates."
He also dismissed as a "sensationalist statement" claims that the Salt River
was now "ruined".
"Apart from eels it was a fishless river - a unique river system with
aquatic invertebrates swimming happily."
These would have been eaten by the trout.
Impson added that a comprehensive EIA would be done before any action was
taken because the World Bank, which is supplying the funding, demands it.
a.. This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on
May 10, 2008
|
What do you mean by alien fish, where do they come from and what harm do
they really do to the ecosystem. Is poisoning the only solution?
-----Original Message-----
From: Ben van Zyl [mailto:bvanzyl@mfmr.gov.na]
Sent: 19 May 2008 12:15 PM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Experts slam plan to poison fish
I used rotenone extensively as a sample tool for more than 10 years while
doing freshwater fish research in Namibia. In my opinion it has no effect
on invertebrates
Ben van zyl
-----Original Message-----
From: Leslie Ter Morshuizen [mailto:leslie@aquaafrica.co.za]
Sent: 19 May 2008 09:51
To: General Discussion
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Experts slam plan to poison fish
Does anyone out there know what effect rotenone has on invertebrates? See
the article below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Experts slam plan to poison fish
By Helen Bamford
Conservationists, anglers and scientists are up in arms over plans by
CapeNature to poison four rivers to get rid of invasive alien fish like
trout and bass.
They fear poisoning the rivers will not only kill off the alien fish but
could result in a mass extermination of all endemic insect and aquatic
species in the rivers and devastate the fragile eco-systems.
CapeNature has embarked on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to look
at the best methods of eradicating alien fish, and has indicated that a
poison called Rotenone is the preferred option.
But Bill Bainbridge, chairperson of the Federation of Southern African
Flyfishers, said they were concerned about the use of Rotenone, a poison
that affected all organisms, including humans.
'We want to turn the clock back'
"It is a shotgun approach that kills everything in its path so we need to
know beforehand what the implications are and how it will affect the
long-term rehabilitation of the rivers," he said.
Alien fish like trout and smallmouth bass were introduced more than 100
years ago to cater to the lucrative flyfishing industry, which attracts
anglers from all over the world.
CapeNature has identified the Krom, the Suurvlei and the Rondegat rivers in
the Cederberg and the Krom River in the Eastern Cape where it believes alien
fish should be eradicated, and anglers are concerned about which rivers
could be next.
If the EIA gives the go-ahead for Rotenone, action could start next summer.
Writing in Piscator, the journal of the Cape Piscatorial Society,
CapeNature's Dean Impson, in charge of freshwater conservation, says
worldwide invasive alien fish have "significantly contributed to the decline
of most, if not all, indigenous fishes through competition, predation and
hybridisation and often are the greatest dangers to their conservation".
'It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts'
He makes the case for the use of Rotenone, saying it has been used
successfully in the United States and Spain.
Impson says if they could get rid of the invasive aliens in the rivers, many
would once again be pristine.
"We want to turn the clock back."
But Leonard Flemming, a microbiology PhD student, said the proposed
poisoning was simply an experiment by CapeNature for the future use of the
poison in other rivers.
The EIA had been under way for about six months but it appeared as if the
outcome had been pre-decided. He slammed the process as unethical.
From an environmental perspective it was a "radical move that could
devastate the eco-system".
In a different article in the journal, Flemming also raises that question of
why CapeNature is not focusing on habitat destruction which he says is the
major cause of diminishing indigenous fish populations.
One example was the bulldozing of the river bed in the Driehoeks River in
the Cederberg to build new weirs and campsites, which had threatened a
healthy population of spawning Clanwilliam yellowfish and sawfin.
Yet when he bought it to the attention of CapeNature, it was indifferent.
Also involved in the debate via the angling magazine Flyfishing, Peter
Thorpe, aquatic scientist and graduate of the JLB Smith Institute of
Ichthyology at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, recounts how he was forced
to sell his farm on the Salt River near Plettenberg Bay when Impson vetoed
his plans to stock his river with sterilised trout in case they eliminated
aquatic insects.
Thorpe had planned to use income from fly-fishing clients to clear alien
vegetation choking the area.
But when he was told he would have to undertake a three-year EIA he was
forced to sell up.
In his article Thorpe questions whether CapeNature and its officials "have
no shame".
"Rotenone will transform the Krom into an underwater desert, impacting on
every element of the food chain, possibly permanently exterminating rare
dragon- and damselfly species," he writes.
Questions have now been raised as to why, if Thorpe's application was turned
down, CapeNature can justify the destruction of aquatic insects in the Krom.
But Impson says the concentration of Rotenone required to kill trout
wouldn't necessarily kill off all other aquatic invertebrates.
"It is misleading to talk of aquatic deserts. In the worst-case scenario
there would be an aquatic desert for a few months but a year later there
would be lots more aquatic invertebrates."
He also dismissed as a "sensationalist statement" claims that the Salt River
was now "ruined".
"Apart from eels it was a fishless river - a unique river system with
aquatic invertebrates swimming happily."
These would have been eaten by the trout.
Impson added that a comprehensive EIA would be done before any action was
taken because the World Bank, which is supplying the funding, demands it.
a.. This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Argus on
May 10, 2008 |
I appreciate the comments, ideas and recommedations from the DLISTers. As the population of elephants grow due to conservation efforts, so does the human population. This basically results in people spreading into areas that were not previously settled.
With all this information we might be able to address the problem. We will host our programme thursday at 12:00 namibian time to convey this information.
----- Original Message ----
From: Melusile Ndlovu <megabula@yahoo.com>
To: General Discussion <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:43:18 PM
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
It seems chilli peppers do work in chasing away elephants from human settlements. However, I would like to know whether this elephant problem is a seasonal one or not? To my understanding elephants tend to migrate as seasons change; which they do following their ancient migration paths, with Namibia having the most migratory elephants (travelling great distances). It could be possible that we now have villages blocking those path(s), hence the attacks.
Or we now have a huge elephant population that is becoming a problem to people, thanks to conservation efforts.
However, I think we also need to reconsider the planning and location of our villages and take into consideration wildlife. Because, for as long as we continue venturing and reducing the size of the elephants habitat then we will certainly have these Human Elephant Conflicts. Which I am afraid some of them will be very fatal.
Uri, I like the idea you mention here of relaying information from this online discussion to people in the remote Kunene region, through radio is an interesting one indeed.I agree with Nico we need to have information from these researches put in "layman's terms" rather than having these dry-like dust academic papers that people wont understand. |
The elephants in Kunene are magnificent creatures. They deserve every chance
for survival, and anyone who has ever tracked one in the great sandy rivers
running to the Skeleton Coast, will agree. But they do scare people, and
they sometimes do inflict damage on crops. Now the comments, ideas and
recommendation from the DLISTers may in fact help to solving the problem. To
spread this information DLIST is using two different ICT modalities, namely
the web based platform to collect and share information, and then spread it
to even the most remote areas through radio. If this works, the results
could many times over pay for the entire DLIST budget for three years,
considering how much money has gone into conserving elephants and solving
human-wild aninals conflicts. Truly, information can be very powerful when
shared. Lets hope this may be an exmaple of exactly that. Also, if we are to
reach rural communities, including remote fisher communities, we will have
to reach far beyond the web platform only and use other ways of making an
maintaining contact. Any suggestions are much appreciated, as two big Large
Marine Ecosystems are looming, each one of them brining with it tremendous
challenges in terms of two-way communication.
-----Original Message-----
From: Uriokwao Matundu [mailto:urimatundu@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 9:18 AM
To: General Discussion
Subject: Re: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
I appreciate the comments, ideas and recommedations from the DLISTers. As
the population of elephants grow due to conservation efforts, so does the
human population. This basically results in people spreading into areas that
were not previously settled.
With all this information we might be able to address the problem. We will
host our programme thursday at 12:00 namibian time to convey this
information. |
I have just heard a very interesting story told by a local Mozambican that lives in the Niassa province, the largest and the most sparsely populated region of the ten provinces of Mozambique. It is bordered by Tanzania in the north and Malawi in the west.
He recalls the problem his community recently had with elephants over trampling their crops. Having heard through family and friends about the use off peri peri as a solution to this problem, this community also resorted to the use of peri peri on fence lines so that these elephants would stay away.
This strategy proved successful, as elephants would approach the “peri peri fences” and as soon as contact was made, they would run in the opposite direction. Now, what is interesting about this story is that after the “peri peri fences” were installed and a few elephants scared away it did not take long for the elephants to have a shift in their behaviour.
The elephants would now approach the fences very slowly, breaking off branches from trees with their trunks, and literally throwing the branches at these fences so that these would fall down and they could now continue on their path.
I find that this raises another important question about how do we ensure non human-animal conflict when animals have found their ways around our “solutions”?
|
Texted by an Elephant?
The 'Save the Elephants' campaign who have been working in the Ol Pejeta
conservancy in Kenya have recently found a way to alert rangers that an
elephant is about to invade on the conservancy's neigbouring farms....
through sms.
In the past the Kenya Wildlife Services has had to kill 5 elephants who were
raiding crops wiping out 6 months of income at a time. The group set up a
virtual geofence of the conservancy's boundaries and inserted a collar with
a phone SIM card in the problem elephants collar. In this way, each time the
elephant approached the virtual fence, a text message was sent to the
rangers, who could then frighten the elephant back to the conservancy.
Although the project is still in its infancy, the experiment has been
successful in intercepting the problem elephant many times already, keeping
the crop raids down and bringing some relief to the community.
To see the full article on CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/12/elephant.text.message.ap/index.html
The 'Save the Elephants' Campiagn
http://www.savetheelephants.org/home.html
----- Original Message -----
From: "Uriokwao Matundu" <urimatundu@yahoo.com>
To: "General Discussion" <discuss@dlist-benguela.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:12 PM
Subject: [DLIST Discuss] Human Wildlife Conflict
>
> Opuwo
>
> Communal farmers at Otjerunda, Okatumba and Ombombo villlages in Kunene
> region have lost hope of a good harvest due to elephants that are
> destroying their crops at night, and some farmers will not harvest
> anything due to the extent of destruction this year.
> Some farmers lost crops crops valued at 15 000 N$. The affedted farmers
> suggested that the government should speed up the erection of the promised
> electrical fence so as to prevent elephants from entering their fields and
> that the government sould consider compensating farmers for the lost crop.
>
> The problem is apparent to this region and is a seious devastating
> household economic loss. The same community is now undergoing a process of
> forming a conservancy but this will take a bit of time as there are
> boundary disputes with neighbouring conservancies. The loss will then
> continue to outwight gains from natural resources as it should be the
> opposite.
>
> Based on the their recommendations above, communities are very eager to
> involve in conservation as long as they are gaining something out of it
> than losses.
>
> How do we harmonise the system here to boost protection of our valuable
> biodiversity?
>
> Please help
>
>
> [ Disclaimer: Discussion forums are open to everyone. Opinions and
> assertions in discussions do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
> DLIST administrators, staff or associated moderators. Any party that does
> not agree with the contents of messages are encouraged to make their views
> known on the open forum. Messages are moderated only to remove language
> that may be offensive to a general audience. ]
> |
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