insert_link Environment Fruit Production an untapped Agribusiness with many Opportunities By Hanks Saisai, Technical Advisor: Crops & Poultry According to a study conducted by the Namibian Agronomic Board, Namibia ‘s fruit production sector accounts for about 4% of local production (a mere 732 tons) compared to an estimated 20 282tons imported from other countries to meet local demand. Most fruits consumed in Namibia such as apples, pears and bananas are seldom produced in Namibia. To this end, oranges and grapes […] todayOctober 30, 2023 12
insert_link Environment Silent Extinction: Giraffe Reveal Stunning Genetic Diversity and Urgent Need for Conservation Giraffe numbers in Africa have dropped significantly in the last 35 years and latest estimates by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) have their numbers at only 117,000 animals in the wild. This means that there is only one giraffe for every four elephant remaining in Africa. This rather perturbing situation is exacerbated by the recent understanding that there are four distinct species of giraffe and not only one as previously […] todayOctober 23, 2023 5
insert_link Environment Lion protection fee paid by tourists could help stop trophy hunting – South African study Neil D’Cruze, University of Oxford; Angie Elwin, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Herbert Ntuli, University of Pretoria Trophy hunting is contentious. It typically involves paying for and pursuing a specific wild animal, often a large or iconic species, with the goal of killing it to obtain a trophy, such as the animal’s head, horns, or hide. Popular public opinion is largely in favour of ending the killing of wild animals for […] todayOctober 23, 2023 4
insert_link Environment Namibia and Angola’s remote Ovahimba mountains reveal a haven for unique plants – new survey Vera De Cauwer, Namibia University of Science and Technology The Kaokoveld region, covering north-western Namibia and south-western Angola, is one of the remotest areas in southern Africa. Although it’s extremely dry, it is a centre of species endemism: many species occur only there and nowhere else on earth. New species continue to be found, especially in the Ovahimba mountain range, which runs parallel to the cold Atlantic ocean and is […] todayOctober 20, 2023 4
insert_link Environment Artificial coral reefs showing early signs they can mimic real reefs killed by climate change – new research Rick Stafford, Bournemouth University and Zach Boakes, Bournemouth University Earth’s average temperature in September 2023 was 1.75°C above its pre-industrial baseline, breaching (if only temporarily) the 1.5°C threshold at which world leaders agreed to try and limit long-term warming. Persistent warming at this level will make it difficult for the ocean’s coral reefs to survive. The same goes for those communities who rely on the reefs for food, to protect […] todayOctober 20, 2023 9
insert_link Africa Africa must rethink natural resources management to avoid adverse socio-economic consequences Africa needs to rethink how it manages its natural resources to avoid adverse socio-economic consequences that could hamper sustainable development on the continent, experts said at a recent webinar organised by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org). The call came ahead of the 2023 United Nations Conference on Climate Change scheduled for November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The global conference (COP28) presents a milestone moment when […] todayOctober 19, 2023 10
insert_link Africa Largest all-women voyage to set sail for Antarctica An expedition of 188 women from all over the world, is setting sail to Antarctica in November, on a collaborative mission to promote the long-term sustainability of the planet. With representatives from South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe, the 19-day voyage provides participants, all with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), with a first-hand experience of one of the earth’s most precious ecosystems, as they leverage their expertise […] todayOctober 18, 2023 1
