Namibia and SA join forces on conservation of Orange River

NAMIBIA and South Africa are working together to improve the conservation and management of the Orange River Mouth, one of Namibia’s wetlands of international importance.

This was announced recently by Karas Governor Dawid Boois. The Governor said it was sad that in 1995 the Orange River Mouth had had to be placed on the Montreaux Record, a register of wetlands that have severely suffered ecological degradation.”These negative changes have been due mainly to the activities of man,” said Boois.He said the Orange River was one of the most regulated river systems in southern Africa, with some 29 large dams in its catchment areas in Lesotho and South Africa.Namibia shares the Orange River with South Africa.Boois said the two countries were also co-operating through Orasecom, the Orange-Senqu River Commission between Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, to jointly manage the Orange River and its water resources.Wetlands have to be preserved as they provide very important goods and services essential to human and other species’ survival.Boois was speaking at a combined commemoration of World Water Day and Wetlands Day, held at the southern diamond town of Oranjemund at the end of last month.The event was held under the theme: ‘Coping with water scarcity’, which was the theme for World Water Day 2007.Agriculture and Water Deputy Minister Paul Smit said Namibia was again facing drought, as no significant rainfall was received this year.”Once again we have to adapt and cope with the reality of water scarcity,” said Smit.He said it was important that Namibians took care of the little water they have and use it wisely.”We cannot afford to waste any of it and that is why our cities, industries and mines actively practise water-demand management,” he said.At the same occasion, Smit launched a booklet entitled ‘Caring for Our Water’, written for schoolchildren to make them aware of this precious resource and the threats of water pollution.Internationally, World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 while World Water Day is on March 22.Namibia’s three other wetlands of international importance are the Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sandwich Harbour and Etosha Pan.Threats to wetlands in Namibia include over-utilisation of plants and animal resources due to population growth and poverty, over-withdrawal of river and ground water for irrigation and urban use, and pollution by pesticides and industrial effluents.Namibia is an active member of the Ramsar Convention (the UN Convention on Wetlands of International Importance).Parties to the Ramsar Convention commit themselves to include wetland conservation in land-use planning, promoting wise use of wetlands in their territories.The Governor said it was sad that in 1995 the Orange River Mouth had had to be placed on the Montreaux Record, a register of wetlands that have severely suffered ecological degradation.”These negative changes have been due mainly to the activities of man,” said Boois.He said the Orange River was one of the most regulated river systems in southern Africa, with some 29 large dams in its catchment areas in Lesotho and South Africa.Namibia shares the Orange River with South Africa.Boois said the two countries were also co-operating through Orasecom, the Orange-Senqu River Commission between Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, to jointly manage the Orange River and its water resources.Wetlands have to be preserved as they provide very important goods and services essential to human and other species’ survival.Boois was speaking at a combined commemoration of World Water Day and Wetlands Day, held at the southern diamond town of Oranjemund at the end of last month.The event was held under the theme: ‘Coping with water scarcity’, which was the theme for World Water Day 2007.Agriculture and Water Deputy Minister Paul Smit said Namibia was again facing drought, as no significant rainfall was received this year.”Once again we have to adapt and cope with the reality of water scarcity,” said Smit.He said it was important that Namibians took care of the little water they have and use it wisely.”We cannot afford to waste any of it and that is why our cities, industries and mines actively practise water-demand management,” he said.At the same occasion, Smit launched a booklet entitled ‘Caring for Our Water’, written for schoolchildren to make them aware of this precious resource and the threats of water pollution.Internationally, World Wetlands Day is celebrated on February 2 while World Water Day is on March 22.Namibia’s three other wetlands of international importance are the Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sandwich Harbour and Etosha Pan.Threats to wetlands in Namibia include over-utilisation of plants and animal resources due to population growth and poverty, over-withdrawal of river and ground water for irrigation and urban use, and pollution by pesticides and industrial effluents.Namibia is an active member of the Ramsar Convention (the UN Convention on Wetlands of International Importance).Parties to the Ramsar Convention commit themselves to include wetland conservation in land-use planning, promoting wise use of wetlands in their territories.