Go Green in action

Nedbank Namibia initiated the Go Green Fund in 2001 together with Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). The positive development impact that has come from this partnership showcases how private corporations can work with civil society to bring about greater change and contribute to Namibia’s sustainable development on sound research.

Over the past decade Nedbank, in partnership with NNF, has supported over 30 conservation projects across Namibia, ranging from environmental education programmes in the South to fresh water fisheries research projects in the North East of Namibia.

A recent project recipient of the Go Green Fund is The Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) which has been awarded N$147 055.00. This support has enabled CCF to start implementing their 3 year project to determine the distribution, density and human-carnivore conflict areas for cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and other key large carnivores across the Greater Waterberg Landscape.

The project will take place across the Greater Waterberg Landscape (GWL), which is made up of five conservancies; Waterberg (commercial), Ozonahi, Okamatapati, Otjituuo and African Wild Dog (communal). The current distribution and densities of key carnivore species including the endangered African wild dog and vulnerable cheetah across the GWL is unknown. However, previous studies have shown that a high level of retaliation killing of carnivores due to livestock loss is occurring across the GWL.

Wildlife surveys have been greatly enhanced by the development of remote camera traps. The benefits of using remote cameras are numerous and a key factor is the capture, confirmation and monitoring of rare and elusive species particularly when the species is located across large remote areas. The method is non-invasive and produces little disturbance to the survey area or individual target animal such as the cheetah.

In addition to verifying carnivore presence the project aims to go further by quantifying the level and spatial distribution of human-carnivore conflict that is taking place across the GWL. By mapping these conflict zones resources can be targeted to these key areas through education of mitigation methods, which in turn reduces the level of human-carnivore conflict in this area, in order to secure the future of large carnivores across the GWL.

A comprehensive species list will also be created which will be shared with the relevant government departments, conservation non-governmental organisations, conservancy management and their respective communities, the Large Carnivore Management Association of Namibia, and relevant international organisations for example the International Union for Conservation of Nature where applicable.

Nedbank Namibia appreciates that funding is often very limited and that government can only do a confined amount of environmental work. Funding from the private sector is therefore an absolute imperative to sustain the commitments made towards Namibia’s environmental conservation and protection.