Nacoma supports environmental management students

Several post-graduate students received study grants last week from the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project at a gala dinner in Swakopmund to mark the end of the second part of the Nacoma Coastal Biodiversity week.
Recipients of the grants this year are Mrs Nangula Amutenya who will be completing her Master’s degree in Environmental Management from the University of the Free State, Mr Petrus Uushona and Ms Selma Iipinge, both enrolled at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for the MSc in Environmental Management, and Mr Jacobs Francois Jacob for a doctorate at the University of Kwazulu-Natal.
The gala dinner was hosted last Friday to raise funds for the Coastal Environment Scholarship Fund. Proceeds assist students to pursue post-graduate studies in environmental management.  “The importance of having students in the field of environmental management should not be doubted, particularly because there is a need for individuals with capacities to contribute to the sustainable management of the environment”, said Mr Rod Braby at the gala dinner.  Honorary Coastodian were also awarded at the dinner. Braby said, “despite the fact that we have institutions, organisations and projects at the coast that are doing their best to safeguard the environment; there are also individuals that have realized the need to take care of the environment, and have gone the extra mile to do so.

The Honorary Coastodians are those individuals who have significantly contributed to the protection of the environment in many possible ways for a reasonable period of time. The award recipients are former governor of the Erongo Regioin, Hon. Samuel Nuuyoma, Dr Anja Kreiner, Ms Aunie Gebhard and Mr Tommy Collard. A dinner highlight for the young generation was the announcement of the Mister Coastodian and Miss Coastodian titles, respectively going to Lizinho Pallais and Tanya Knüffel. Both are learners at Namib High School.
The Coastal Biodiversity Week Part 2 concluded on Saturday 20 September with the International Coastal clean-up along the shore. Celebrated annually, teachers and volunteers gathered to collect rubbish from their respective beaches to ensure they remain clean. Debris consisted mostly of plastic bags, glass and plastic beverage bottles, beverage cans, caps, lids and food wrappers.  The annual clean-up is supported by the municipalities of Oranjemund, Lüderitz, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund with additional assistance from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism; the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Nadeet, Namdeb Diamond Corporation, Plastic Packaging; Rent-a-Drum, churches, various schools and individual volunteers. The Coastal Biodiversity week is made possible with financial support from Rossing Uranium, Erongo RED, Swakop Uranium, PASS Project, NAMDEB Diamond Corporation, NAMSOV, Municipality of Walvis Bay, Suzuki Auto Namibia, Schoemans Office Systems, Areva, Manica Group Namibia, Distell Namibia, Namibia Breweries Limited, O&L Leisure Hotels and Lodges, Batis Birding Safaris, Protea Hotel Namibia, Photo Adventures, Hata Angu Cultural Tours, Walvis Bay Bird Paradise, Walvis Bay Tours and Living Desert Tours.