🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
SADC countries launch new wetland initiative to promote conservation and sustainable use
via The Namibian2 min read
A new initiative, the Southern Africa Regional Ramsar Initiative Sarri, has been launched to promote the use and protection of wetlands across 12 Southern African Development Community SADC countries. Sarri aims to foster regional cooperation and ensure communities benefit from the sustainable use of natural resources. Namibian experts have welcomed the initiative, with Kenneth //Uiseb, deputy director for wildlife monitoring and research and national focal point for the Ramsar Convention, highlighting its potential to attract financial and technical resources for wetland management. Sion Iikela, a natural resources management lecturer at the International University of Management, emphasized the timely nature of Sarri, noting that many SADC wetlands are poorly managed. He cited Namibia’s Cuvelai-Etosha Basin as an example of a wetland threatened by over-harvesting, pollution, illegal hunting of water birds, and illegal sand mining. Angus Middleton, executive director of the Namibia Nature Foundation, stated that Sarri demonstrates SADC's strong commitment to the protection, restoration, and inclusive management of wetlands, which are crucial for biodiversity, local livelihoods, and cultural heritage in Namibia and the wider region. Namibia joined the Ramsar Convention in 1995 and has designated five wetlands of international importance.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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