Great response to Coastal clean-up day

The response in terms of participation, donations and contributions to International Coastal Clean-up Day, which will take place at various beaches along Namibia’s coast on Saturday 15 September, is overwhelming and hugely appreciated.

Volunteers at the 2010 clean-up

So said Ignatius Kauvee, Technical Advisor of the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management (NACOMA) Project, on behalf of all concerned environmental coastal stakeholders.

He pointed out that nearly 1,200 volunteers will take to the beaches on Saturday to pick up rubbish, littered by human beings and or which washed up from boats, ships or oceans elsewhere.

This will be the largest national coastal clean-up in the history of Namibia thus far and includes prominent and the most frequented beach areas at Oranjemund, Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Wlotzkasbaken, Henties Bay and the Skeleton Coast Park.

Kauvee said since it became known that Namibia would be participating in Oceans Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up Day 2012, assistance from the public and private sector poured in.

This ranged from the donation of money, gloves to pick up the rubbish with, refreshments, refuse bags, transport of the volunteers, the placement of skips, the transport, weighing, sorting, recycling and dumping of rubbish.

Birds along the coast

“This definitely indicates that Namibians are serious about the cleanliness of their beaches and the conservation of the coastal areas,” he emphasised. “Hopefully this message will spread wider and encourage and cause other Namibians and visitors to the coast to respect the environment and not litter or pollute.”

The volunteers will also collect data on the items they pick up and all the trash will be weighed.

This would indicate the most prevalent litter along Namibia’s coast and the mass of the total rubbish collected. The data will be used for research, education and advocacy purposes and also be sent to Oceans Conservancy, the international advocacy body.

International Coastal Clean-up Day forms part of Coastal Biodiversity Week, Part 2, from 15 – 22 September.

It includes events such as:

• a Fund-raising Gala Dinner for the Coastal Environment Scholarship Fund on 19 September at Walvis Bay;
• a Tree Planting Ceremony at Dune 7 on 20 September, sponsored by Suzuki Windhoek; 
• Rössing Uranium’s Bird Watch Event for Grade 9 learners at the Walvis Bay Lagoon on 20 September; 
• Mr and Miss Coastodian (Environmental Ambassadors) for Grade 9 – 11 learners at the Namib Primary School Hall in Swakopmund on 21 September; 
• and a Street Procession for the public, government and private institutions along Swakopmund’s main street on Saturday, 22 September.
• Environmental movies will be screened free of charge for the convenience of the public at Atlanta Cinema in Swakopmund 17 – 22 September; and in the public library of the Walvis Bay Municipality, twice a day from 17 till 21 September.

For more information please contact: Kaatri Nambandi at the NACOMA Project on Tel: 064 – 403 905 or KNambandi@nacoma.org.na OR Gys Reitz on Cell: 0811244008 or parrotcom@mweb.com.na