IMPALILA – The University of Namibia (Unam) Katima Mulilo campus on Monday launched a biodiversity conservation and tourism development research project station at the Impalila Island.
The project aims to improve the protection of biodiversity, sustainable land use and enhancement of tourism benefits for local communities.
Activities are funded through a grant from the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology of N$430 000, which will be spread over two years.
Pro vice chancellor on Research, Science and Technology Kenneth Matengu said during the launch that Namibia has a very unique biodiversity and fragile ecosystem, whose protection is crucial for the agricultural and tourism sectors. Matengu said 43% of the country’s land is designated as protected areas and thus demonstrates the importance government puts on sustainable use of its natural resources.
The project is strategically located in the Zambezi region, where there are many protected areas, national parks and conservancies, which is ideal for internationally competitive research in the areas of wildlife management and sustainable tourism.
‘The research project is and structured to research and develop resources based inventories for the island and develop innovative tourism concepts through modern participation planning methods,’ Matengu said.
The Impalila Island is on the far eastern tip of Namibia, bordered on the north by the Zambezi River and on the south by the Chobe.
Between 2 500 and 3 000 people live in 25 small villages on the island.
Matengu added that the research station project falls under the Katima Mulilo campus’s department of wildlife management and ecotourism.
‘Therefore the department will train experts in wildlife management and ecotourism urgently needed in the Southern African Development Community region at Bachelor and master levels and stimulate research activities.
‘This will help better protect and conserve the Trans Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCA), use natural resources sustainability and develop the area to a competitive tourist destination thereby contribute to the economic development of the region and supporting its integration,’ said Matengu.
Nampa
