Education
The education programme is primarily for land managers, farmers, and school children but also includes overseas visitors. It focuses on the ecological importance of raptors and scavengers in order to maintain a healthy environment and to build overall awareness of these conservation issues.
Stakeholder Awareness
REST Board of Directors has met with many stakeholders in the country. REST has attended farmers meetings in districts across the country and attended local and national agricultural shows with the live educational vulture, Nelson. Educational talks about vultures and poisons are given approximately once a week at REST headquarters or around Namibia to school children, environmental groups and farmers groups.
Vulture Friendly Farms
Farmers who embrace the discontinuation of poison use on their farms and adopt other alternatives to protect their livestock are being awarded a sign to be posted on the landowners’ gate to demonstrate to the community that they practice ‘vulture friendly’ land management, sponsored by the Global Environmental Fund of the UNDP.
SOS-Save our Species Campaign
In 2004 we launched our SOS (Save Our Species) Campaign school art competition which aims to raise the awareness of the plight of rare and endangered species in young Namibian children. Local school children were provided with information on our five ‘flagship’ species, as well as paints, brushes and cotton school bags produced by a local woman’s group. The children were then asked to paint their favourite species on the bag.
The second phase of the campaign focused on students at primary and combined schools in Grades 3-7. Seven towns were selected that fall within the key agricultural and farming areas covered by the overall Poison and Vulture Awareness Campaign. The Disney wildlife fund supports our work, reaching 7 500 additional children.
By educating, informing and involving children in these towns the awareness of the plight of rare and endangered species is raised in the minds of future generations of farmers and land users. Participation in the competition by children at these schools will help the message reach approximately 6000 children. Awareness and education of a wider Namibian and international audience were reached through the production of the winning designs printed onto 2000 eco-friendly shopping bags and sold throughout tourist and retail outlets in Namibia.Eco-system Value
In addition information is being produced on vultures in general and the important role that these serene and noble raptors play in the eco-system – maintaining a disease-free environment. Vultures, because they eat together in large numbers are particularly important as they appear to be the only species in the world that seems to be completely immune to diseases such as Anthrax and Botulism (both diseases found in Namibia) and can consume an infected carcass within an hour, preventing this disease from spreading further.
Assisting Farmers – Predator ID
A laminated predator ID sheet has been developed to assist farmers and staff in identifying the predator responsible for preying on their livestock. This increase in correct information has allowed farmers to act ethically in determining their response and has begun to decrease poison use.
Assisting Farmers – Livestock Protection Collar Project
REST are involving local Namibians to develop poison alternative items to scare off predators from livestock. Specifically scent and noise collars, which are non-lethal but very effective as they make the predator unsure of its environment. Trials of noise and scent prototypes are currently underway, this will be extended during 2006, and then a local self-help group will develop a small sustainable business producing these collars to sell at agricultural shows across Namibia.
Future Plans
New Facilities
At Okatjemunde, the new REST headquarters, an informative Education Centre has been built alongside the hide which will provide the focus for our educational awareness campaigns. Schools visits will provide valuable learning for the future land users of the country. Accompanied by a simple activity sheet, learners and teachers will be encouraged to get the most out of their visit.
Recently, REST began development plans for an Interactive Visitor Centre and submitted a grant for funding in order to begin construction at the end of 2008. The Interactive Visitor Centre will provide a centre of excellence which will stimulate active, fun learning and encourage visitors to get a better understanding of the importance of conservation. Guests will begin their tour along a path leading to an interactive tunnel introducing the “Forgotten Five” species of REST and coming out into an open-air amphitheater with covered seating. The tunnel will include sounds of frogs and Wild Dogs (solar powered), simulated dens of Wild Dogs, Pangolins and Dwarf Pythons and a demonstration of how the Spotted Rubber Frog survives in dry habitats. In the amphitheatre, REST staff will give presentations. Following the presentation, guests will enter the centre and partake in several interactive activities to learn about conservation, research and the environment. Some of these hands-on activities will allow guests to simulate flying like a vulture or seeing through the eyes of the animals. Inside the center will be a small curio shop and just outside, a picnic area.
A visit to the Interactive Centre will be the starting point for a sense trail for visually, hearing and physically impaired visitors, with support from the Namibian Ministry of Health and sponsored by Natural Encounters. In addition walking trails and printed pamphlets will guide all visitors through the facilities and surrounding land.
Broader Programmes
A funding appeal is being launched to enable REST to bring children from the more remote and disadvantaged areas of the country to visit us. It is important that our message reaches as many young people as possible. Please help us if you can.
Overseas Education
Through sister-school and education exchange programmes overseas students may also come to visit REST and share learning.
Getting the Word Out!
Research Base
World recognition is coming through our large volume and safe capture techniques, fitting the first vultures in Africa with satellite transmitters and developing a translocation of Cape vultures from South Africa to Namibia in order to provide a proper breeding base. This strong research base now allows us to realistically predict where land based conservation efforts will be needed and the direct results in behaviour of birds when their numbers drop so dramatically.
Positive Communication
Communication at a local level is through a strong network of meetings with conservancies and farming unions. By specifically targeting land manager education some very good information has been published. This information is used in conjunction with posters and information sheets that are already in production about the vital role of raptors and scavengers in the environment. With the use of posters and brochures it is believed this will dispel preconceived negative notions of raptors and redefine their image in a positive light. These posters will also serve to educate school children, the general public and tourists as to the important role raptors play in the environment and Namibia’s role in that protection.
Worldwide Media Support
The local, regional and international media has given REST a lot of support in all areas of its work. We have developed good partnerships within the print, radio and film industry and this relationship is proving essential is disseminating our information across the world. International film organisations such as BBC, Animal Planet, and the 50/50 News Programme have filmed at REST within the last two years.
Partnerships
The continuing partnership with organisations like De Wildt in South Africa and the fact that REST is now advising researchers and conservation groups all over the world can only assist in the global knowledge base and developing research on vultures.