Namibia Crane Working Group: NCWG
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Namibia Crane Working Group Action Plan

The action plan, formulated in Etosha in May 2004, has the following objectives. Click on the [Expand] and [Hide] buttons to see and hide more information on the actions required for each objective:

  1. Co-ordinate conservation effort and promote networking [Expand] [Hide]
    2. 1.1 Start-up activities
    1. Establish a founder working group.
    2. Appoint co-ordinators.
    3. Obtain start-up funding.
    4. Circulate questionnaire on activities and needs.
    5. Draft a vision, mission.
    6. Design logo.
    7. Compile a "Who we are" info sheet.
    8. Identify and implement priority activities (see also 7).
    1.2 Ongoing communication and co-ordination.
    1. Identify and maintain regular contact with local area co-ordinators.
    2. Compile and circulate regular newsletters.
    3. Build up a network of supporters.
  2. Obtain information and data [Expand] [Hide]
    3. 2.1 Conduct research/ monitoring.
    1. Local crane surveys.
        - North Central.
        - Etosha.
        - Caprivi.
        - Kavango.
        - Nyae Nyae.
    2. Investigate cross-border surveys.
    3. Set up logbook of crane sightings. Data form designed and circulated as part of Namibian "events book" system.
    4. Collate crane nesting cards.
    5. Investigate local threats.
    6. Compile broad crane habitat classification, extent, status, trends.
    7. Make management recommendations (see also 7).
    2.2 Compile crane species accounts.
    1. Red Data Book.
    2. Popular accounts.
  3. Promote conservation awareness/education [Expand] [Hide]
    4. 3.1 Develop a crane resource package.
    1. Powerpoint presentation.
    2. Crane poster.
    3. Crane information sheets.
    4. Cultural/resource booklet.
    5. Media (printed).
    6. Radio & television.
    7. Theatre: songs, dance, plays, poems.
    8. Competitions.
    9. Websites.
    10. Educational talks to land custodians, schools.
    3.2 Identify target groups.
    3.3 Conduct awareness activities.
  4. Conserve crane populations and habitats [Expand] [Hide]
    5. 4.1 Integrated management of river basins.
    1. Provide decision makers and planners with good information on cranes and habitats.
    2. Provide information to basin/wetland stakeholders.
    4.2 Develop incentives for conservation.
    1. Review policy cf cranes and habitats.
    2. Enhance incentives for conservation of cranes and habitats.
    4.3 Local management initiatives.
    1. Nyae Nyae.
    2. General.
  5. Promote the economic value of cranes and their habitats [Expand] [Hide]
    6. 5.1 Promote community based resource management.
    1. CBNRM initiatives.
    2. Develop park-neighbour partnerships.
    5.2 Develop sustainable income-earning activities.
    1. Work within traditional frameworks to develop activities.
    2. Enhance the economic value of cranes and their habitats in terms of tourism, crafts.
  6. Build capacity [Expand] [Hide]
    7. 6.1 Conduct a needs assessment (see also 1: questionnaire).
    6.2 Promote training and skills development.
    1. Crane workshops (Namibia).
    2. AWAC training workshop.
    3. Guide training.
    6.3 Compile funding proposals.
  7. Develop area-based crane management strategies [Expand] [Hide]
    8. 7.1 Apply the above strategies to the local situation in consultation with local partners.
    1. General.
    2. North Central.
    3. Etosha.
    4. Kavango.
    5. Caprivi.
    6. Nyae Nyae.
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Progress update, January 2009: five years of implementation of the Action Plan

The newsletter of the Namibia Crane Working Group - Namibia Crane News - is the primary method of communication of news related to the working group and it gives regular and detailed updates on progress and activities. Most of the activities listed below have been reported on in the newsletter and the dates of the relevant issues are indicated in brackets. All of the newsletter issues are available on this site.

Note that actions in italics are linked to the Action Plan, but were implemented by partners of the NCWG.

  1. Co-ordinate conservation effort and promote networking
  2. Obtain information and data
  3. Promote conservation awareness/education
  4. Conserve crane populations and habitats
  5. Promote the economic value of cranes and their habitats
  6. Build capacity
  7. Develop and implement area-based crane management strategies

Download a Presentation on progress to November 2008 [ppt 1.5 mb] or Report on progress to January 2009 [pdf 152 kb]

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Discussion and the way forward

Much has been achieved with the implementation of the Namibia Crane Action Plan; however, there is no room for complacency. Namibia's cranes and wetland birds are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of humans on their habitats and populations, including through climate change, and close monitoring is required in order to detect changes that require intervention.

The further implementation of the plan rests largely in the hands of the local working groups in the five main crane areas: Caprivi, Kavango, Bushmanland, North Central and Etosha. What is needed is to continue to promote communication and co-operation; the collection of information and data (monitoring); education/awareness; capacity building; and the development of the economic value of these birds and their habitats.

The Namibia Crane Working Group will continue to support the implementation of the Namibia Crane Action Plan in the following ways, i.e.:

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Acknowledgements

The implementation of the Namibia Crane Action Plan would not have been possible without the ongoing assistance of an ever-widening circle of supporters, in particular Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF). The donors below are thanked for their generous financial contributions, and many other organisations and individuals for support in kind; the local communities and conservancies in crane areas for their interest and passion for the conservation of these and associated birds and their habitats; and all the other friends of Namibia's cranes for their concern.

The Namibia Crane Action Plan was funded directly, as follows:

Further financial contributions (including for the Namibia Blue Crane Project) and support in kind for the Action Plan were provided by The Overberg Explorer, Polytechnic of Namibia, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ramsar Fund, Wilderness Safaris Namibia and the Wilderness Wildlife Trust, University of Cape Town, International Crane Foundation and the ICF / Endangered Wildlife Trust Partnership. Other local partners include Integrated Resource Development and Nature Conservation, Conservation International, Namibia Wetland Working Group, NNF Every River Project, Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Education Centre, Namibian Academy for Tourism & Hospitality, Namibia Bird Club, NamRingers and Namibian Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS).

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Acronyms

AWACAfrican Wattled Crane Programme
CIConservation International
ERPEvery River Has Its People Project (NNF)
EWTEndangered Wildlife Trust
GEFGlobal Environment Fund
ICFInternational Crane Foundation
IRDNCIntegrated Resource Development and Nature Conservation
METMinistry of Environment and Tourism
NARRECNamibia Animal Rehabilitation Research and Ecucation Centre
NATHNamibian Academy for Tourism & Hospitality
NCWGNamibia Crane Working Group
NEWSNamibian Environment and Wildlife Society
NNFNamibia Nature Foundation
PNPolytechnic of Namibia
RSPBRoyal Society for the Protection of Birds
SASouth Africa
UCTUniversity of Cape Town
WSNWilderness Safaris Namibia
WWGWetland Working Group of Namibia
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Web design by Alice Jarvis. This page last updated August 3, 2009