Birders come up with survival plan for cranes

THE threatened status of three crane species in Namibia received special attention last month when the first crane workshop in the country was held at the Etosha National Park.

The workshop concluded with a Namibia Crane Working Group being established to implement a comprehensive conservation strategy and action plan which was drawn up during the three-day workshop. The crane species in need of attention are the Wattled Crane, Crowned Crane and the Blue Crane.All three species are threatened throughout southern Africa.They are all flagship species for wetland and grassland habitat conservation, according to Mike and Ann Scott, co-ordinators of the Working Group.The workshop first focused on the African crane perspective and the African Wattled Crane Programme by Dr Rich Beilfuss (Africa Programme Co-ordinator, International Crane Foundation).Other reports looked at crane conservation initiatives in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.Moving to Namibia, current crane knowledge and conservation in Namibia was presented by Dr Chris Brown (NNF, in co-operation with Alice Jarvis:Dept of Environment Affairs, MET), with further input on wetland and crane conservation and monitoring by Holger Kolberg (MET), Wilferd Versveld (MET) and Dr Tim Osborne (Kori Inc.).Ann and Mike Scott said an interesting rural perspective on cranes and the people who share their habitats was provided by various roleplayers.They were Chrispin Chizabulyo (MET), Aldrin Siyamla (Mayuni Conservancy), Vasco Silawa (Integrated Rural development and Nature Conservation:IRDNC), Lotto Kuushomwa (Rössing Foundation), Gabriel Fillipus (Oponono Oyike Committee), Titus Shivolo (Ongushu Farmers’ Association), Dorothy Wamunyima (NNF Every River has its People Project), Mathias Mpepo (Manyambo Conservancy), Jacob Kolbooi (MET) and Sebe Swartbooi (Nyae-Nyae Conservancy).The key crane conservation issues identified by the workshop are: * Lack of information * Lack of awareness/education * Cumulative impacts of crane habitat loss/degradation: – River basin developments – Competition and disturbance by humans and agriculture * Lack of co-ordination of conservation effort * Lack of capacity/resources * Need for localised management strategies The conservation action plan will look at information, awareness/education, habitat conservation, co-ordination of conservation efforts and networking, capacity building (training and funding) and development of area-based management strategies.The workshop formed part of a wider initiative called the African Wattled Crane programme [AWAC] of the International Crane Foundation.The aim is to promote the conservation of cranes and their wetland and grassland habitats in Africa.It was organised by Dr Chris Brown of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Ann and Mike Scott of Swakopmund (formerly of the Overberg Crane Group in the Western Cape) and Wilferd Versfeld of the Etosha Ecological Institute of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).About 20 crane enthusiasts from Katima Mulilo, Kongola, Ngweze, Rundu, Oshakati, Grootfontein, Windhoek and Swakopmund attended, while representatives from Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the United States were also present.Ann and Mike Scott will co-ordinate the implementation of the crane action plan, and are looking for any support they can get.Anyone who would like to become involved or offer any other kind of support can contact them on e-mail:ecoserve@iway.naCRANES OF NAMIBIABLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradisea) The Blue Crane breeds on the plains around the Etosha Pan and in the grasslands up to the Lake Oponono area. Red Data Book status Critically Endangered in Namibia, population declining Numbers Overall:20 000 Namibia:60 (maximum) Possible threats Low rainfall; Expanding human populations in northern Namibia; Increasing presence of cattle in grasslands north of Etosha; Snares, collisions with power lines; Borehole drilling in the north may reduce permanence of Etosha’s springs; Genetic inbreeding (small population)WATTLED CRANE (Grus carunculatus) The Wattled Crane occurs as a breeding species on floodplains in East Caprivi, along the Kavango River and seasonally in the Nyae-Nyae area. Red Data Book status: Critically Endangered in Namibia, population stable Numbers Overall:8 000 Namibia:200 Threats Degradation of wetlands, though most are protected in conservancies or are remote and rarely visited by humans; Flow regulation (e.g. proposed weirs) on major rivers; Increased, uncontrolled tourism; Ability to recover from natural disasters or disturbance is limited because:rear only one young, reach sexual maturity as late as 8 or 9 years oldGREY CROWNED CRANE (Balearica regulorum regulorum) The Crowned Crane is found along the Ekuma River when flooded (although no breeding has been recorded). Red Data Book status: Near Threatened in Namibia, population stable/decreasing Numbers Overall:2 800 – 12 000 Namibia: less than 50 Threats Generally, degradation of feeding and breeding habitat, poisoning, collisions with powerlines. In Namibia, human use of Lake mmag by opportunistic hunters and trappers; competition with cattleThe crane species in need of attention are the Wattled Crane, Crowned Crane and the Blue Crane.All three species are threatened throughout southern Africa.They are all flagship species for wetland and grassland habitat conservation, according to Mike and Ann Scott, co-ordinators of the Working Group.The workshop first focused on the African crane perspective and the African Wattled Crane Programme by Dr Rich Beilfuss (Africa Programme Co-ordinator, International Crane Foundation).Other reports looked at crane conservation initiatives in South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.Moving to Namibia, current crane knowledge and conservation in Namibia was presented by Dr Chris Brown (NNF, in co-operation with Alice Jarvis:Dept of Environment Affairs, MET), with further input on wetland and crane conservation and monitoring by Holger Kolberg (MET), Wilferd Versveld (MET) and Dr Tim Osborne (Kori Inc.).Ann and Mike Scott said an interesting rural perspective on cranes and the people who share their habitats was provided by various roleplayers.They were Chrispin Chizabulyo (MET), Aldrin Siyamla (Mayuni Conservancy), Vasco Silawa (Integrated Rural development and Nature Conservation:IRDNC), Lotto Kuushomwa (Rössing Foundation), Gabriel Fillipus (Oponono Oyike Committee), Titus Shivolo (Ongushu Farmers’ Association), Dorothy Wamunyima (NNF Every River has its People Project), Mathias Mpepo (Manyambo Conservancy), Jacob Kolbooi (MET) and Sebe Swartbooi (Nyae-Nyae Conservancy).The key crane conservation issues identified by the workshop are: * Lack of information * Lack of awareness/education * Cumulative impacts of crane habitat loss/degradation: – River basin developments – Competition and disturbance by humans and agriculture * Lack of co-ordination of conservation effort * Lack of capacity/resources * Need for localised management strategies The conservation action plan will look at information, awareness/education, habitat conservation, co-ordination of conservation efforts and networking, capacity building (training and funding) and development of area-based management strategies.The workshop formed part of a wider initiative called the African Wattled Crane programme [AWAC] of the International Crane Foundation.The aim is to promote the conservation of cranes and their wetland and grassland habitats in Africa.It was organised by Dr Chris Brown of the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), Ann and Mike Scott of Swakopmund (formerly of the Overberg Crane Group in the Western Cape) and Wilferd Versfeld of the Etosha Ecological Institute of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).About 20 crane enthusiasts from Katima Mulilo, Kongola, Ngweze, Rundu, Oshakati, Grootfontein, Windhoek and Swakopmund attended, while representatives from Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the United States were also present.Ann and Mike Scott will co-ordinate the implementation of the crane action plan, and are looking for any support they can get.Anyone who would like to become involved or offer any other kind of support can contact them on e-mail:ecoserve@iway.naCRANES OF NAMIBIABLUE CRANE (Anthropoides paradisea) The Blue Crane breeds on the plains around the Etosha Pan and in the grasslands up to the Lake Oponono area. Red Data Book status Critically Endangered in Namibia, population declining Numbers Overall:20 000 Namibia:60 (maximum) Possible threats Low rainfall; Expanding human populations in northern Namibia; Increasing presence of cattle in grasslands north of Etosha; Snares, collisions with power lines; Borehole drilling in the north may reduce permanence of Etosha’s springs; Genetic inbreeding (small population)WATTLED CRANE (Grus carunculatus) The Wattled Crane occurs as a breeding species on floodplains in East Caprivi, along the Kavango River and seasonally in the Nyae-Nyae area. Red Data Book status: Critically Endangered in Namibia, population stable Numbers Overall:8 000 Namibia:200 Threats Degradation of wetlands, though most are protected in conservancies or are remote and rarely visited by humans; Flow regulation (e.g. proposed weirs) on major rivers; Increased, uncontrolled tourism; Ability to recover from natural disasters or disturbance is limited because:rear only one young, reach sexual maturity as late as 8 or 9 years oldGREY CROWNED CRANE (Balearica regulorum regulorum) The Crowned Crane is found along the Ekuma River when flooded (although no breeding has been recorded). Red Data Book status: Near Threatened in Namibia, population stable/decreasing Numbers Overall:2 800 – 12 000 Namibia: less than 50 Threats Generally, degradation of feeding and breeding habitat, poisoning, collisions with powerlines. In Namibia, human use of Lake mmag by opportunistic hunters and trappers; competition with cattle