Africa-Press – Angola. Vice President of Angola, Esperança da Costa, and the National Geographic Explorer and leader of the Okavango Wildlife Project, Steve Boyes, on Thursday in Luanda discussed the protection and preservation of fauna and flora in the Okavango Basin.
Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, Steve Boyes stated that he had addressed several issues related to the Okavango Basin Project, which is being promoted by Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
He emphasized that explorers from this society, local and regional experts, plus partners have been working, through rigorous scientific research, on impactful conservation education projects, as well as on the establishment of community-oriented protection systems.
The explorer emphasized that the water tower from Angola, which connects the Okavango, Zambezi, Kwanza, and Congo basins, contributes 72% of the water to the region’s major rivers.
He noted that the meeting also served as an opportunity to present to the Vice President a proposal to hold a presidential conference in the country in 2027, to highlight the significant importance of Angola’s water supply to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The expert argued that Angola should be proud of its potential and emphasized that over the past 10 years in Angola, 275 new species of plants and animals have been discovered for science, with the help of local and international scientists.
For example, he mentioned some new species discovered in Angola from animal families such as the cheetah, the lion, and most importantly, the elephant. Hence the fact that a documentary was made in this field.
Steve Boyes revealed that they made a film called Ghost Elephants, directed by Werner Herzog, one of the most famous filmmakers in the world.
He added that the film will celebrate Angola with the new species of elephants and will attract global attention and informed that it has already been screened at festivals and will be available on various platforms only in March 2026.
The leader of the Okavango Wildlife Project announced that National Geographic and the Lisima Foundation an Angolan organization created in 2024 to conserve the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, have revised their agreements to maintain cooperation and work until 2032.
Therefore, he added that the project will continue to tell the story of Angola and its importance to the entire region, as well as of the world.
Steve Boyes thanked the Vice President for her continued support in training people at universities.
He announced that National Geographic will create a partnership, as well as training opportunities at the graduate, doctoral, and master’s levels, among other initiatives.
To better publicize and make the project’s objectives better known, he said that articles are being produced in magazines and that the edition of a book is underway.
He informed that the goal is to create good conditions for the people to sustainably use the resources available in these areas.
In turn, Marta Zumbo, Deputy Director General of the National Institute for Biodiversity and Conservation Areas, part of the Ministry of the Environment, emphasized that during the meeting, they presented the results of the work that is ongoing on the ground, so that Angola can present to the world its rich biodiversity.
She revealed that Angola has made international commitments to increase environmental conservation areas and, in this regard, it has been working with various partners to achieve the goal of 17% of conservation areas in the country.
Elvis Zambala, director of the Lisima Foundation, emphasized that the entity was created under a memorandum of understanding between the Angolan government, the National Geographic Office, and the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry Culture, and the Ministry of Tourism to implement wildlife projects in the country.
She explained that the project covers an area of approximately 20 headwater lagoons that feed into particularly important rivers and feed the Angola Water Tower.
The leader of the Foundation highlighted that to protect biodiversity and preserve these areas, the Okavango is not limited to research and investigation, but also to the implementation of local programs to promote community development. Projects related to honey production, handicrafts, health, education, agriculture, among others, are developed in collaboration with provincial governments.
National Geographic has been active in Angola through the Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP), focusing on river conservation and biodiversity in the Okavango basins, and through its documentation of the Angolan elephant species.
The organization also promotes the training of young Angolans through a photography workshop in Cabo Ledo and the release of research and books about the country.
Okavango is a joint project developed by Angola, Namibia, Botswana, and Zambia, primarily to promote tourism in the region.
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