How many trees can you name in Tsumeb?
Theo Uvanga, (front row second from right) is the Environmental Manager at Dundee Precious Metals in Tsumeb. Assisted by his colleagues Violine Kavindjima (front row second from left), a junior Environmental Officer, and Kamuiua Kamundu, (front row right), an environmental graduate, they partnered with botanist Colleen Mannheimer to conduct a competition for high school learners to identify the indigenous trees growing in Tsumeb. The competitioni was the smelter operator’s contribution to create awareness for the importance of biodiversity.
The competition taught learners how to identify various trees by using a biological key that follows steps of elimination to arrive at the correct identification.
The guest speaker at the prize ceremonty was Coleen Mannheimer, a Namibian botanist with over 20 years’ experience with indigenous plants. Coleen is also an editor, author and co-author of a number of well-known books on Namibian plant life. The learners were given a presentation about plants to help them improve their knowledge.
The four teams who participated in the field competition were: Etosha Secondary School, Tsumeb Secondary School, Otjikoto Secondary School, and the Tsumeb Scouts who won the first prize of a N$2000 voucher for stationary.
The second prize, a N$1500 voucher for stationary, went to Tsumeb Secondary School and the third prize, a N$1000 voucher went to Etosha Secondary.
Each of the four teams received copies of two books for their libraries namely; Field Guide to the Wildflowers of the Central Highlands of Namibia and Rare and Endangered Birds of Namibia.
“This was the second annual Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb’s Biodiversity Outreach Programme. The challenge level was deliberately made higher than last year, but the pupils excelled, so I suggest next year ,we raise the intensity of the competition again” said Louis Nel, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb.
