164 | CLEANING THE ROUTES TRAVELLED

164

BIRDSCONTOUR REACTS TO LITTERING WITH THE PROJECT “BIRDSCONTOUR FOR A CLEANER BIRD HABITAT”

Cleaning the routes traveled

Photos and text by Stefan Rust

2013

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belongs to Stefan Rust)

It is usually assumed that cleaning the country is the role of the government. However, BirdsConTour assists in meeting this challenge, not least because our visitors want to enjoy a clean country. It’s really about creating a secure environment for wildlife and birdlife to live in in the long term.

Black garbage bags and a tool for collecting litter are always part of the luggage and wherever time is available and litter is lying around next to the road traveled, a cleaning stop is arranged. Simultaneously this offers a break from the tiring driving and gives everybody the chance to stretch his or her legs while doing something productive.

Guests react very positive to this project and mostly assist in picking up litter.

There is simply no better way of keeping the roads traveled clean and leaves a good impression on the guide, the tour company and finally even on the country and its people.

NAMAQUA TOUR (Namibia – South Africa - Botswana – Zimbabwe) (08.11. – 29.11.2013)

(A joint venture between BirdsConTour, Pack Safari and Chamäleon Reisen)

This time, the BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat cleaning session led to the corner of the B1/D1254, the turnoff to Schlipp.

         

Also alongside the Cape Namibia Route (N7) near Vanrhynsdorp in the heart of Namaqualand a spot was cleaned from litter while having had a stop at a construction roadblock. Litter such as ropes lying around can cause deadly traps for birds, such as for this Pied Crow.

Again BirdsConTour took action in the effort to keep the country clean. Today, as quite a few times before, the site around this often visited termite mount was cleaned.

   

This year is the bicentenary year of David Livingstone’s birth and has been marked today with a special cleaning session celebrating the life and achievements of the iconic explorer. Inspired by Livingstone’s love of nature, BirdsConTour (Birds Conservation and Tourism) together with five German guests visited the Livingstone statue in the Victoria Falls National Park today, collecting litter around the statue with the goal to leave behind a clean area for visitors and a safe habitat for birds.

   

                                                         Chobe National Park, Botswana

Every country that was visited with this exciting Namaqua Tour got its share with a cleaning session by BirdsConTour. Especially in National Parks glass, plastic and other litter can cause harm to animals or can cause dry vegetation to start burning.