Category: POSTS

TOSCO Trust is partnering with SNAKES OF NAMIBIA to propose an Awareness Conservation workshop for communities and especially for game guards.

The Conservation Workshop grants support training with a strong hands-on learning component that will help your communities understand the snakes better.

Objective: 

1. Create awareness within the 86 conservancies in Namibia regarding snakes. 
2. Collecting data from communities regarding the snake / human wildlife conflicts.
3. Set up a first aid protocol (action plan) for snakebites in communities. 

Snakes of Namibia have developed a variety of snake handling and awareness courses of the last couple of years, because snakes often come into conflict with humans it is important that we equip the public with knowledge on identification, first aid and handling of dangerous snakes. Specially in Conservancies around Namibia, which there are not data collected.

Conservation Workshop for Erongo Region

We planned the first workshop/training for game guards on Saturday 31 August 2019 for 6 conservancies: Tsiseb, Otjimboyo, Sorris Sorris, Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy, Doro !Nawas Conservancy andUibasen Twyfelfontein Conservancy, for a total of 12 persons game guards.

The workshop was hosted in Elephant-Human Relations Aid (EHRA) base camp. Where François Theart provided the basic regarding the biology of the snakes, identification and first aid & emergency numbers.

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Continue reading “Conservation Workshop – Introduction to the Namibian snakes for Conservancies and Game guards” →

Conserving wildlife is not an easy task. Many countries like Namibia, use ecotourism as a tool for wildlife conservation, which aims at increasing income and jobs, encourage local people to see the value of wildlife. For example Namibia has initiated national parks as way to protect wild animals and their natural habitats, where hunting is illegal.

Responsible tourism

besides generates extra jobs and income for local people, help to conserve wildlife by making locals value the biodiversity they have. They provide performance payments to communities based on the abundance of wildlife in their area, the program creates a direct correlation between economic empowerment and conservation success. 

Responsible travel in Namibia

must be designedin a way that creates the right incentives to change people’s behavior. Tourism is not a magic tool for conservation, as it can only be effective when done in conjunction with patrolling (game guards) and law enforcement. If local people’s income from tourism increases with greater wildlife sightings by tourists, or decreases with increased illegal hunting or trade, ecotourism can help reduce hunting and protect wildlife. 

If you want to help protect wildlife through tourism, here are some simple things you can do: 

• Never buy products made from endangered or protected species. 
• Don’t keep illegally traded animals as pets. 
• Support conservation programs and support local people outside national parks.
• Avoid establishments with wild animals kept in captivity if there is no recognized conservation program.

Continue reading “How can we protect wildlife through ecotourism?” →

Jackals are not endangered in Namibia and are regularly seen on farms, lodges, Etosha and even in our Namib desert. They are known to be opportunistic feeders, which means they will eat anything they can find. Whether it be fruits, plants, mammals or even birds. 

Where is the strangest place to find jackals?

Perhaps the strangest of places to find jackals is at Pelican Point in Walvis Bay and along the Skeleton Coast, because Pelican Point is a long stretch Peninsula that is surrounded by the ocean and Skeleton Coast is where the Desert and the ocean meet so there is little water for the jackals to drink at either of these places. These jackals have adapted to drink less water than usual, because they get some of their water from the meat that they eat.

Jackals are a very important part of the ecosystem at Pelican Point and along the Skeleton Coast, because they eat the dead seals and birds, which makes them natural cleaners, preventing the spread of disease and keeping the environment relatively clean. If they become too friendly with humans, and start eating human food, either by going through bins in towns or being fed by us, they will no longer do this important cleaning job. This could make the spread of disease higher and the seal colonies will be even stinkier with rotting meat laying around. 

Continue reading “Jackals, the cleaners of Pelican Point” →

Background

The Environment is the most important resource for life and a clean environment is essential for healthy living. It helps make the world a beautiful place for one, and it makes individuals healthier when the environment around them is healthy. Our environment is responsible for plants, animals, food chains, water and much more. Therefore, we should keep our environment clean.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is coordinating this year’s National Clean Up and Anti-littering Campaign. On the 2^ndof April, 2019, Honorable Pohamba Shifeta officially announced and declared the 21st of September 2019 as the designated date  for this year’s National Clean-up Day. It is expectected that all Namibian citizens in all the regions should work hand in hand with their Local Authorities to come up with activities in preparation for this important day. The chosen date happens to be the World Clean Up Day and so it will be good to see Namibia stand out from this day onwards for the good of our health and as well as the environment. 

The Clean Up and Anti-littering Campaign is aimed at changing the public behaviours (mindsets) of all citizens on matters related to littering, general hygiene and proper waste disposal management (Reducing, Re-using and Recycling). The Ministry’s objective for this campaign is to see a society where all citizens will become sensitive and mindful of littering and adopt best waste management practices through reducing,-re-using and recycling.

New Trash Tag School Challenge

In cohesion with the “National Clean up day”set up for the 21th of September and in order to create environmental awareness within the kids in Namibia; TOSCO Trust and PAKO Kids Magazine in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Recycle Namibia Forum have teamed up to bring a new challenge called; the “before and after challenge” for all schools around Namibia. 

The objective will be to encourage kids to get outside their schools between Monday 16^th to 21^th of September and help to clean up their surroundings. They will need to post pictures before and after the challenges with the hash tags #Trash Tag  #Thefutureisnow #Namibiacleanup2019

The winning school will win a monetary price sponsored by First National Bank of Namibia (FNB) and others organizations and the participating learners will win a trip to an educational centre.  

Continue reading “National Clean up campaign” →

The Namibian Dolphin Project

It is a research and conservation project run by the Sea Search Research and Conservation NPO and conducting work throughout Namibia. Since 2008, its mission has been to doresearch on whales and dolphins in Namibian waters with the aim of generating high quality data that is useful to both science and management. 

 

NDP Partners

The NDP works closely with other local NGO’s, the marine tourism industry and the Namibian government and through their Community Outreach Programme.  NDP also works with schools and communities to create awareness on the Namibia’s rich and unique marine wildlife and to bring the oceans to the people. 

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TOSCO Trust Input

For the past few years, TOSCO Trust has been supporting this amazing project and in 2018 N$ 20 000 were sponsored for the Marine Environmental Office, which serves to receive visitors and students from local schools and universities. 

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Fundraising for the NDP’s new vehicle.

This year, TOSCO Trust wishes to support the NamibianDolphin Project to buy their new vehicle which is absolutely necessary for them to keep doing the excellent job they are doing. 

In this regard, TOSCO Trust is hosting a fundraising campaign, in which we already participated with a donation of N$10 000. We invite all of you to partake in supporting this good case and support it by whatever amount you can to participate with so that this great project can continue with the project efficiently and effectively.    

Continue reading “Fundraising campaign for the Namibian Dolphin Project” →

As we become more environmentally conscious and take responsibility of the effect we have on the environment, we also realize that we have a deep responsibility toward nature, our collective planet, and future generations to come. That’s one of the reason TOSCO Trust is developing these “Conservation Workshops“. In this opportunity, we bring to our community, a very special workshop. Introduction to growing food and trees in partnership with Eloolo Permaculture Initiative

Date: Saturday 07 of September 2019

Time: From 8h30 to 13h00

Place: Dagbreek SchoolJohn Ludwig &, Hebenstreit Street, Windhoek

Price: 500NAD

Book in advance: admin@tosco.org

Course content:

Intro – What is Permaculture and why in context with growing food and trees.
Growing food – Namibia specific and dryland basics Practical – getting your hands dirty!

This workshop guarantee funds to the organization, for them to continue with the great job they are doing and at the same time, grants support training with a strong hands-on learning component that will help you to understand Eloolo Permaculture Initiative better.

Continue reading “Conservation Workshop; Introduction to growing food and trees” →

Hosted during the 24th to the 29th of June 2019.

Tourism is a multidisciplinary industry and therefore involves many different stakeholders for its operational activities. Among them the tourist guides play a major role since tourists need to have a clear picture of the country and its offerings, laws, rules and regulations and  expected behaviours. Moreover, guides should have the ability to transform the tourist visit into an unforgettable experience. 

With this workshop we aim to create a network of well-trained guides aware of the importance of responsible tourism in Namibia. Furthermore, they need to be aware that their behaviour towards the elephants can have long-term effects on their conservation.

TOSCO Team participated in the Conservation Workshop – PEACE Project hosted by Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) during the 24th to the 29th of June 2019 at EHRA base camp, on the Ugab River.

A tailor made program

It was a workshop tailor-made for the tourism industry, especially for tour guides. The workshop had 9 participants from different backgrounds: freelance tour guides, guides from Tour Operators and guides from lodges and campsites, all ready to learn more about   Loxodonta africana africana

Continue reading “The Conservation Workshop – PEACE Project” →