Clean-up Initiative in the Kunene Region
T
OSCO (Tourism Supporting Conservation Trust) recently coordinated clean-up campaigns in the ≠Khoadi-//Hoas and Uibasen-Twyfelfontein conservancies in the Kunene Region. The campaigns consisted of workshops to educate community members on waste management and to create awareness aiming to change mindsets and perceptions of waste pollution. The first major clean-up was conducted in the ≠Khoadi -//Hôas conservancy in settlements such as Anker, Erwee and Maarine Way. The second was done in the UibasenTwyfelfontein conservancy where garbage was removed from the Aba-Huab River near Louw’s Inn settlement, including the areas around the intersection of the D2612 and D3254 district roads. The Aba-Huab River is unfortunately famous for plastic waste lying around, and the joint cleaning effort of community members and lodges in the conservancy was an incredible exercise. Tons of waste were collected in the conservancies – an indication of the success of this initiative. Next in line for cleaning are the conservancies of Torra, Purros, Ehirovipuka and Tsiseb. Among the biggest challenges
of the initial clean-up campaigns were the lack of equipment and dumping sites. As part of the long-term solution there is a need to construct waste separation stations in the conservancies. They will serve as waste collection points where waste is sorted into categories and recyclables are separated from non-recyclables. The initiative is a long-term project determined to find sustainable waste management solutions in communal areas in an effort to move towards a cleaner Namibia. The initiative also hopes to create employment incentives for youths in communal areas. TOSCO is a Namibian non-profit organisation founded in 2012. Its objective is to link tourism to conservation by supporting conservation projects and activities carried out in conservancies, supporting people who are living with wildlife and promoting sustainable tourism. Any donations of plastic refuse bags, hand sanitisers, accommodation, fuel and transport, refreshments during clean-ups, promotional goods (sun hats, caps and T-shirts) and contributions to the construction of waste separation stations in the conservancies will be greatly appreciated. For more information on how to support this initiative, contact TOSCO at info@tosco.org.
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