Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Contributing Organisations
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
The Brandberg experience
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
1 Conservancies: Biodiversity the base of living
…CBNRM as a world-renowned approach to sustainable use of natural resources
and poverty reduction. What does biodiversity mean to them?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Site(s):
Short description:
Primary topics:
Nicky Gaseb (chairperson of Tsiseb
Conservancy), Karen Knott (CBNRM expert)
Local game guards, local residents, possibly
mountain guides, public, press
Various – transport with conservancy vehicles
Demonstration of Tsiseb Conservancy involving
various locals.
Game management, ecotourism, ethnobotany
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
2 Brandberg’s Rock Paintings: Messages of the
past for the future
...in the footsteps of the ancestors. What can we learn from the ancient
inhabitants of the area about their connection to the diversity of life?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Site(s):
Short description:
Tilman Lenssen-Erz (archaeologist)
Media representatives, local mountain guides,
public, press
Tsisab Valley, including the “White Lady” rock
painting
Analyzing and interpreting rock paintings that
precisely depict the parts of nature the ancient as
well as the present inhabitants of the area depend
on.
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
3 The Ugab Wetlands: Water is life
… a wetland in the middle of the desert and oasis for all living beings.
What services does it deliver to the community?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Site(s):
Short description:
Holger Kolberg (ornithologist), Kevin Roberts
(aquatic biologist)
Local guides and game guards, public, press
Ugab wetlands and riverine area in the vicinity of t
he lodge
Bird watching and completing a bird list examining
and collecting various aquatic organisms with focus
on the link between biodiversity and development
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
4 Small Heroes: Invertebrates keep the circle going
… applying actively the methods of classic biomonitoring. Why are these small
animals so important for the health and service capacity of ecosystems?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Site(s):
Short description:
John Irish (entomologist)
Local guides, public, press
Slopes of Brandberg, plains, Ugab riverbed
(close to the lodge)
Collection of invertebrates via various methods in
different habitats and elaboration on their
contributions to the ecosystems
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
5 Mammals: Brothers from other mothers
…on the tracks of our roommates. What do they share with us? How do they
care for us? What do they expect from us?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Site(s):
Short description:
Jörg Melzheimer (biologist)
local guide, press, public
slopes of Brandberg, plains, Ugab riverbed (close to
lodge)
trapping small mammals and tracking their bigger
relatives by different methods to explore their
connection to human living
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
6 Plants: The base of civilisation
…exploring the manifold connections between plants and human development.
Which plants are there and what is their use for us?
Experts involved:
Important participants:
Sites(s):
Short description:
Salome Kruger (NBRI), David Iyambo (NBRI),
Peggy Poncelet (agronomist)
Local guides and indigenous people, public, press
Slopes of Brandberg, plains, Ugab riverbed (close to
lodge)
Botanical survey in different habitats, with focus on
the link between biodiversity and development
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
7 biodiversity action groups
7 appointments with nature
7 Crossing the Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
First step: preparing
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Starting at the White Lady Lodge
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
To meet nature at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
via walking
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Looking up
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Looking down
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Looking at bigger things
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
And getting new perspectives
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Hoping that their
children can paint the
same beauty
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Hoping that their
children will find the
same diversity of life
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
Biodiversity Action Day at Brandberg
What did we find?
Or:
How well do you know your country?
What is this?
A water purification plant
A flood control mechanism
What is this?
An air conditioner
(CO2 fixation, shadow provision)
An oxygen factory
Nutrient provider
(Nitrogen fixation)
A food production factory (wildlife and domestic)
A home (bird & insects habitat)
An energy provider (firewood)
An income generator (craft from seeds)
What is this?
Doctor (medicine for flu in berries)
Toothbrush
(commercial application for active
ingredient in RSA)
Nectar production plant (insects)
A soil protection
system (erosion)
What is this?
Pest controllers (predators)
…and much more services provided ‚gratis‘ by nature – our web of life
Brandberg precious home
How do the services of nature make the whole
Brandberg area a precious home for every inhabitant?
Brandberg precious home
It feeds
Brandberg precious home
It generates income (tourism)
Brandberg precious home
It supplies raw material
Brandberg precious home
A source of culture and identity
Messages of the past…
…and of the future:
Brandberg precious home
A message of the
future:
What is this?
Just one example of irreplaceable nature
What is
this?
you
…as part of nature
Nature for Development
Thank you for your
understanding