Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Northern Namibia (northern + namibia)
Selected AbstractsLocal governance and water resource management: experiences from Northern NamibiaPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2008Farhad Hossain Abstract Like many semi-arid countries in Africa, Namibia has been experiencing water shortage for a long period of time. Prior to its independence in 1990, most of Namibia's water points,namely, the boreholes,served white-Namibians (about 7% of the national population of predominantly German descent) and their commercial farming areas. But their water needs have been satisfied at the expense of those indigenous Namibians and their communal areas (where some 80% of the national population originates). Independence, however, brought with it a new hope for the indigenous population: since 1990, the government has been working diligently to reform the country's local governance, and make local government agencies more effective, efficient and responsive to common people and their needs. This article sheds light on how, within the background of the government's decentralisation efforts, the management and distribution of water resources have changed in an independent Namibia, reporting findings from research conducted in a newly emerged village council in the north of the country. Drawing on historical and contemporary practices, we describe and analyse the role of decentralised local government in water resource management in northern Namibia, where today, more than 50% of the national population (i.e. the indigenous Oshiwambo-speaking people) resides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dispersal and migration of juvenile African Black Oystercatchers Haematopus moquiniIBIS, Issue 3 2003Philip A. R. Hockey African Black Oystercatchers Haematopus moquini are sedentary as adults. However, colour-ringing of more than 700 juveniles has revealed complex post-fledging movements that vary geographically. Young from the western part of the breeding range either remain within 150 km of their natal site or migrate 1500,2000 km to one of five discrete nursery areas on the Namib Desert coast of central and northern Namibia, and southern Angola. These nurseries all lie north of the species' breeding range. We calculate that 36,46% of all juveniles born in South Africa migrate to nurseries. Birds return to their natal sites from nurseries at 2,3 years old, but never migrate again. Juveniles from the eastern part of the range undertake ,diffusion dispersal', regularly up to 1000 km, but these journeys mostly end within the breeding range, where there are no nurseries. Very few eastern birds reach nurseries. There is no evidence that movements of western birds are density-dependent responses to hatching date, but long-distance migrants are significantly heavier as chicks than are short-distance dispersers. We hypothesize that a genetic basis exists to these movements, possibly triggered by body condition, that could account not only for the highly dichotomous behaviour of western birds, but also for the intermediate behaviour of eastern birds. [source] Genetic structure of two populations of the Namibian giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis angolensisAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Rick A. Brenneman Abstract Two geographically distinct populations of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) were sampled for this study, the northern Namib Desert and Etosha National Park. Population genetic parameters and relationships within subpopulations were estimated to better understand the genetic architecture of this isolated subspecies. Gene flow between the geographically separated populations can be attributed to recent translocation of giraffe between the two populations. Inbreeding estimates in the six subpopulations studied were low though we found evidence that genetic drift may be affecting the genetic diversity of the isolated populations in northern Namibia. Population dynamics of the sampling locations was inferred with relationship coefficient analyses. Recent molecular systematics of the Namibian giraffe populations indicates that they are distinct from the subspecies Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa and classified as G. c. angolensis. Based on genetic analyses, these giraffe populations of northern Namibia, the desert-dwelling giraffe and those protected in Etosha National Park, are a distinct subspecies from that previously assumed; thus we add data on G. c. angolensis to our scientific knowledge of this giraffe of southern Africa. Résumé Deux populations de girafes (Giraffa camelopardalis) distinctes sur le plan géographique ont servi d'échantillons pour cette étude, celle du nord du Désert du Namib et celle du Parc National d'Etosha. Nous avons estimé les paramètres génétiques des populations et les relations au sein des sous-populations pour mieux comprendre l'architecture génétique de cette sous-espèce isolée. Les flux génétiques entre les populations séparées géographiquement peuvent être attribués à la récente translocation de girafes entre ces deux populations. L'inbreeding estimé dans les six sous-populations étudiées était faible, encore que nous ayons découvert des preuves que la dérive génétique pourrait bien affecter la diversité génétique des populations isolées dans le nord de la Namibie. La dynamique des populations des endroits où furent faits les échantillonnages fut déduite en fonction de l'analyse des coefficients. La nouvelle systématique moléculaire des populations de girafes de Namibie indique qu'elles sont distinctes de la sous-espèce Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa et classées comme G.c. angolensis. Selon les analyses génétiques, ces populations de girafes du nord de la Namibie, les girafes qui vivent dans le désert et celles qui sont protégées dans le Parc National d'Etosha sont une sous-espèce distincte de celle que l'on croyait auparavant, et nous ajoutons ainsi des données sur G.c. angolensisà la connaissance scientifique de cette girafe d'Afrique australe. [source] Seasonal occurrence and local movements of the grey-headed (brown-necked) parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis suahelicus in southern AfricaAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Craig T. Symes Abstract Seasonal movements of grey-headed (brown-necked) parrots were recorded in parts of its range and are likely a response to breeding and availability of specific food sources. Breeding occurred in the northern Kruger National Park and lowveld near the Mutale,Luvhuvhu river confluence from April to August. Aggregations and movements of birds occurred during the post-breeding season (August,December) in response to seasonally abundant food sources. In north-eastern South Africa, grey-headed parrots occurred at Levubu, following the breeding season and their arrival in the area was correlated with the availability of unripe Mabola Plum, Parinari curatellifolia fruit. Similar regional movements occurred in Zimbabwe, the Caprivi of northern Namibia and Zambia. During these movements, flocks of up to 50 individuals were observed, whilst during breeding months singletons and pairs were more frequently seen. This increased abundance in time and space suggests that seasonal migratory movements occur. Résumé Des déplacements saisonniers de perroquets Poicephalus robustus ont été relevés dans des parties de leur aire de répartition, et ils sont vraisemblablement une réponse aux besoins de la reproduction et à la disponibilité des sources de leur nourriture spécifique. La reproduction avait lieu d'avril à août dans le nord du Parc National Kruger et dans le lowveld près du confluent des rivières Mutale et Luvhuvhu. Des rassemblements et des déplacements d'oiseaux avaient lieu dans la saison qui suivait celle de la reproduction (août , décembre) en réponse à l'abondance saisonnière des sources de nourriture. Au nord-est de l'Afrique du Sud, ces perroquets se rencontraient à Levubu, après la saison de reproduction, et leur arrivée coïncidait à la disponibilité des prunes Mabola (Parinari curatellifolia) avant leur maturité. On constatait des déplacements régionaux saisonniers semblables au Zimbabwe, dans le Capríví au nord de la Namibie et en Zambie. Au cours de ces déplacements, on a observé des bandes qui peuvent compter jusqu'à 50 individus, alors que pendant les mois de reproduction, on voyait plus souvent des solitaires ou des couples. Cette abondance accrue à certains moments et à certains endroits suggère qu'il existe des migrations saisonnières. [source] Local governance and water resource management: experiences from Northern NamibiaPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2008Farhad Hossain Abstract Like many semi-arid countries in Africa, Namibia has been experiencing water shortage for a long period of time. Prior to its independence in 1990, most of Namibia's water points,namely, the boreholes,served white-Namibians (about 7% of the national population of predominantly German descent) and their commercial farming areas. But their water needs have been satisfied at the expense of those indigenous Namibians and their communal areas (where some 80% of the national population originates). Independence, however, brought with it a new hope for the indigenous population: since 1990, the government has been working diligently to reform the country's local governance, and make local government agencies more effective, efficient and responsive to common people and their needs. This article sheds light on how, within the background of the government's decentralisation efforts, the management and distribution of water resources have changed in an independent Namibia, reporting findings from research conducted in a newly emerged village council in the north of the country. Drawing on historical and contemporary practices, we describe and analyse the role of decentralised local government in water resource management in northern Namibia, where today, more than 50% of the national population (i.e. the indigenous Oshiwambo-speaking people) resides. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||