Tree awards 2013

At the 7th annual Tree Awards 2013 several organisations and people were honoured for their work in preserving Namibia’s natural tree heritage. 

The winners were: 

• Almut Kronsbein who received the award on behalf of Gondwana Collection Namibia for making an effort to preserve indigenous plants and using indigenous even restricted to local plants, for their different lodges.
• Hartmut Voigts for saving a large Marula tree from being cut down by developers and his continuous efforts in relocating large trees.
• Wil-Merie Howard who received the award on behalf of Riverdance Lodge for preserving as many trees as possible in the design and building of the lodge as well as their active involvement in raising awareness in their community. 
• Miya  Kabajani and Ruusa Gottlieb, facilitators of the Summer Development Programme  (2012/2013) of the DRFN and Gobabeb Research and Training Centre who received a special award for their comparative research on Faidherbia albida (Ana tree) and Acacia erioloba (Camelthorn) in the lower Kuiseb and Swakop Rivers. The SDP group has made a valuable contribution to ongoing research effort of national relevance, while gaining an appreciation for the important role of trees in the ephemeral riverine forest ecosystems.

Aloe dichtoma Photo ©Samson Mulonga

The Tree Award event is an annual event where individuals or institutions are honoured for their effort to preserve indigenous trees or to plant indigenous trees.  This year there were 7 nominees from different regions in the country and all involved in different activities/projects:

• Pompie & Helga Burger and Hartmut Voigts (Khomas Region);
• Wabi Lodge (Otjozondjupa Region);
• Kupferquelle Resort (Oshikoto Region);
• Riverdance Lodge (Kavango Region);
• Summer Development Programme (2012/2013) of the DFRN and Gobabeb Training and Research Centre (Erongo Region);  
• Gondwana Collection (Namibia)