Endemic plants in danger
Great worries over rare species
In the Tsau //Khaeb National Park (Sperrgebiet) there are plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Scientist Antje Burke fears for the future of these endemics, since they could become extinct due to tourism, mining and plant poaching.
Dr Antje Burke is concerned. Concerned about the endemic plants in Tsau //Khaeb National Park, which is a restricted area.She has been active in the Sperrgebiet for almost 30 years and advises Namdeb, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and other stakeholders in the region on biodiversity and nature conservation planning and environmental management.
"Plants are my passion," she said at the beginning of her lecture on Tuesday evening at the Namibia Scientific Society. They are always an indicator of other habitats.
The Sperrgebiet is a national park with a high diversity of plants and, above all, a large number of endemic species, i.e. plants that only occur in this region worldwide. "In total, there are 31 plant species that only occur in this area, 11 of which with an extremely limited distribution area," the scientist explained. Sometimes they only grow on one of the mountains and nowhere else.
Multiple threats
"Do the endemics stand a chance in the face of multiple threats?"
Burke dealt with this question in detail. She presented a list of threats that endanger the plants in the restricted area and make their future uncertain. First, Burke mentioned climate change, "we don't know how they're going to react to it".
However, they will be exposed to greater stress in the future. Mining also destroys habitats. Yet, it is thanks to diamond mining that this diversity was able to survive in the restricted area at all.
For some time now, part of the Sperrgebiet has been open to the public.
At the "Aurus Saddle" there is a hiking trail and a viewpoint for tourists. "Right there is a hotspot of rare plants," Burke said.
She has already asked that a path with demarcations and a viewing platform be created. She also recommended installing a surveillance camera so people know they'll be seen if they steal a plant. But none of this has happened. There was a lack of money. "Everyone wants to take a picture, so don't stand in the way and step on the plants." If this continues, the endemic hotspot will be lost in a few years, Burke predicted, saying that is not sustainable tourism.
Plant poaching is also a serious problem. For Burke, this is one of the biggest threats. The endemics are sold in Asian markets to collectors or for medicinal purposes.
The last aspect Burke addressed was the "Green Hydrogen Project".
Should wind farms spread in the future - plans are already underway - they would also have an impact on areas that are home to many endemic plants. One could then no longer speak of green development, she opined.
After the lecture, it was quiet in the room with many grim faces. The challenges facing restricted area plants in the future are troubling. "They would be lost if they were destroyed."
To save them from extinction, Burke calls for more intensive environmental management and an increase in the ministry's staff.
She concluded her presentation by saying, "Endemics only stand a chance if their status is recognised and measures to protect them are adopted and followed in planning, development and execution."