Welcome to Cactus Clean-Up Namibia
Welcome to CactusClean-Up Namibia
We all have to take responsibility for our environment into our own hands, no one does it for us!
All sorts of invasive cacti and other damaging plants are taking over the habitat of our Namibian vegetation and they are spreading countrywide at an incredible rapid pace. These alien plants can hurt and kill wildlife and domestic animals. We will end with impenetrable cactus thickets that can be used as strongholds by robbers only.
If we want to prevent an entire collapse of our own vegetation, we together have to handle this problem urgently.
The fastest and most effective way to do it is to get active physically. All residents should take their rakes and cardboard boxes to pull out every single cactus wherever it is spotted. Each uprooted plant buried under several meters of building rubble at a City of Windhoek landfill site can not multiply anymore.
If someone prefers to pay workers to do the job, experienced job-seeking "cactus fighters" can be found at the street side everywhere. With our CactusClean-Up initiative, we, Friedhelm and Gunhild, try to make ends meet.
As far as donations are available we offer workers from the street side N$200.00 for a day's work. From our own pocket we supply them with tools, sandwiches, coffee and water and take them home at the end of the day.
Participate to pay workers from the streetside to remove damaging invasive plants at N$ 200.- per day:
CactusClean-Up
Bank Windhoek
Account 8005224758
Please e-mail name, address and proof of donation to
gunhild.voigts@gmail.gmail.com
Famine weed, Parthenium hysterophorus
Please read:
- https://blog.invasive-species.org/2018/05/30/parthenium-controlling-the-worlds-most-destructive-toxic-weed/
- Powerpoint compiled by Guy Preston: situation in South Africa
How to get rid of the most destructive toxic invader plant:
- As the lifecycle of Pathenium hysterophorus = Famine Weed is extremely short all approaches have to take place in good time, within two weeks after germination to prevent flowers and maturing seeds.
- Identify Famine Weed: After germination Parthenium grows to a rosette of lobed leafs.
The flowers resemble "1/2 carat diamonds set in five claws".
Rather kill one other Namibian weed too much than missing one Famine Weed.
- Pathenium hysterophorus has allopathic properties meaning the chemistry of the soil is influenced in such a way, that other seeds are prevented from germination. Therefore pulling out all plants with their roots as far as possible would be the best way to prevent this threat. Chemical and biological control would leave damaging plant material in place and should only be applied where manual approach is not sufficient.
- Safety measurements: Pulling out just a few seedlings will be safe. If they are more please wear gloves and long sleeves to prevent skin contact. If flowers are already present, please wear masks to prevent pollen from entering the lungs.
- Avoid all shaking of the plants because of pollen and seeds. Everything should be burnt.
- Follow-up events every ten days are extremely important to prevent regrowth from seeds in the ground.
- Please take action, spread the knowledge and report to Aktofel Elago (+264813333100 Namibia) what you can not handle yourself.
