Environmentalists of decade honoured

A TRADITIONAL leader from the Caprivi Region and an environmental protection educator were on Thursday evening awarded as Environmentalists of the Decade by the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF).

Chief Joseph Tembwe Mayuni was awarded for a job well done in promoting sustainable development at regional level while well-known environmentalist Dr Mary Seely was awarded for implementing good ideas in environmental management at national level. The awards were given out by NNF Executive Director Dr Chris Brown at the foundation’s year-end function, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the NNF.Brown said Chief Mayuni is a visionary, a mentor and a person who gets things done.In 1997, Chief Mayuni was part of the national delegation to the Cites conference in Harare, where he played a major role in lobbying for Namibia to be permitted to sell its ivory stockpile.In the same year, he initiated the establishment of a communal conservancy in Caprivi, which was registered in 1999.In 2000, he initiated a joint anti-poaching unit consisting of community rangers of three conservancies, rangers of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and staff of Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRNDC).”His influence has gone beyond Caprivi – both in Namibia and to neighbouring countries.He is a tireless and fearless ambassador and champion for conservation and community development,” said Brown.Recently, Chief Mayuni was chosen by three other traditional authorities in Caprivi to represent them at conservation forums.Brown described Seely as a practitioner in environmental management and an ambassador for the Namib Desert’s environment and sustainable development.Amongst the many things she has done, Seely has guided more than 150 Namibian graduates who participated in environmental problem-solving courses on water issues, rangeland, biodiversity, forestry and many other subjects.Many of the graduates now occupy senior positions in Government or serve in academic or decision-making positions.Seely facilitated the first integrated study of west-flowing ephemeral rivers in Namibia and the formation of the first basin management forum and committee for the Kuiseb River.She represented Namibia at a large number of international meetings and conventions on sustainable development.Seely, who is the former Director of the Namibia Desert Foundation, has published over 170 papers and contributed to or written over 20 books.The awards were given out by NNF Executive Director Dr Chris Brown at the foundation’s year-end function, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the NNF.Brown said Chief Mayuni is a visionary, a mentor and a person who gets things done.In 1997, Chief Mayuni was part of the national delegation to the Cites conference in Harare, where he played a major role in lobbying for Namibia to be permitted to sell its ivory stockpile.In the same year, he initiated the establishment of a communal conservancy in Caprivi, which was registered in 1999. In 2000, he initiated a joint anti-poaching unit consisting of community rangers of three conservancies, rangers of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and staff of Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRNDC).”His influence has gone beyond Caprivi – both in Namibia and to neighbouring countries.He is a tireless and fearless ambassador and champion for conservation and community development,” said Brown.Recently, Chief Mayuni was chosen by three other traditional authorities in Caprivi to represent them at conservation forums.Brown described Seely as a practitioner in environmental management and an ambassador for the Namib Desert’s environment and sustainable development.Amongst the many things she has done, Seely has guided more than 150 Namibian graduates who participated in environmental problem-solving courses on water issues, rangeland, biodiversity, forestry and many other subjects.Many of the graduates now occupy senior positions in Government or serve in academic or decision-making positions.Seely facilitated the first integrated study of west-flowing ephemeral rivers in Namibia and the formation of the first basin management forum and committee for the Kuiseb River.She represented Namibia at a large number of international meetings and conventions on sustainable development.Seely, who is the former Director of the Namibia Desert Foundation, has published over 170 papers and contributed to or written over 20 books.