insert_link Environment Drought response to cost N$ 1.3 billion Following President Nangolo Mbumba’s declaration of a national emergency due to severe drought induced by El Nino, the government has allocated N$825 million for relief efforts, but Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa says a funding gap of N$482 million, with the total needed at N$1.307 billion. Relief efforts include food aid for nearly 342,000 households, livestock support, and water provisions. Executive Director in the Office of the Prime Minister, I-Ben […] todayJune 20, 2024 30
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s mountain streams are a haven for special creatures – they need protection By Emmanuel O. Akindele, Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria has many freshwater ecotourism attractions. Among them are the Ikogosi warm spring, the Osun-Osogbo river, and the Olumirin, Owu, Arinta and Ekor waterfalls. Their scenic beauty and lush forests make these sites popular, but the impacts of human activities are likely to pose a growing threat to once-pristine freshwater systems. The biodiversity and conservation value of […] todayJune 20, 2024 17
insert_link Environment Floating solar panels could provide much of Africa’s energy – new research By Iestyn Woolway, Bangor University and Alona Armstrong, Lancaster University New research has found that several countries could meet all their energy needs from solar panel systems floating on lakes. Climate, water and energy environmental scientists R. Iestyn Woolway and Alona Armstrong analysed how much energy could be produced by floating solar panels on just 10% of the water surface of one million bodies of […] todayJune 19, 2024 33
insert_link Environment Indian cities have become heat traps A senior government official says Indian cities have become "heat traps" because of their rapid growth, which is leading to increased carbon emissions and destroying water bodies. This comes as heatwaves in India have killed dozens of people this summer. Rebecca Bundhun reports. todayJune 18, 2024 24
insert_link Environment Agriculture Ministry holds high-level talks on Stampriet aquifer mining The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform today held a high-level meeting in Stampriet regarding Uranium Mining in the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer system. Here is Agriculture Minister, Calle Schlettwein. todayJune 17, 2024 50
insert_link Environment One third of global population affected by desertification Some 3.2 billion people, or almost one-third of the global population, are affected by desertification and land loss driven, in part, by climate change, according to the UN’s most senior official dealing with the issue. Ibrahim Thiaw is the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. todayJune 17, 2024 19
insert_link Environment Maritime rangers discover whale carcass north of Swakopmund Captain Sean Naude, Head of the Namibian Maritime Rangers, lifeguard, and marine life rescue services has confirmed the discovery of a whale carcass floating 30 kilometers north of Swakopmund by Wlotkasbaken on Monday. The whale carcass, believed to have been hit by a ship, was found during the team's search efforts for a missing pastor who disappeared nine days ago. The discovery, according to Naude was immediately reported to the […] todayJune 17, 2024 83
insert_link Africa Zimbabwe’s new dinosaur discovery: inside the find By Paul Barrett, Natural History Museum; Jonah Choiniere, University of the Witwatersrand; Kimberley E.J. Chapelle, University of the Witwatersrand; Lara Sciscio, Jurassica Museum, and Michel Zondo, University of the Witwatersrand Visitors to Lake Kariba – the world’s largest man-made lake, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe – come to enjoy the abundant wildlife, fine fishing or spectacular scenery. However, in 2017, our crew […] todayJune 17, 2024 33
insert_link Africa Malawi farming experiment shows how simple changes can boost maize yields and improve soil By Alan Dixon, University of Worcester Malawi’s increasingly unpredictable rainfall and higher than usual temperatures are causing problems for smallholder farmers. Soil erosion has increased, causing soil fertility and water availability to decline. Crops often fail. Farmers are already struggling financially. Many farm only one crop: maize. They can’t easily afford chemical fertilisers that would boost the soil’s fertility and sustain yields. Agriculture accounts for just […] todayJune 13, 2024 15
