Can you please let me know if you or any other farmers or landowners you
know are about to embark on a bush encroachment control programme on
their land? I am keen to get a before and after study site for birds (or
even a series of them across the aridity gradient). Please let me know
addresses or phone numbers if possible. My contact details are:

Dr Rob Simmons
FitzPatrick Institute,
University of Cape Town,
Rondebosch 7701
South Africa
Rob.Simmons@uct.ac.za
Tel: +27 21 650 3310
Fax: +27 21 650 3295
Cell: 0827 800 133

www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/docs/robert.html
www.nnf.org.na/RAPTORS/raptors_pges/conservation.htm
http://www.natural-research.org/news/PNG_harrier.htm

Here you find a selection of articles, reports, presentations and other published material from the Chameleon project.

Fendler, J.: Chameleon. Development of a Web-Based Expert System for Bush Encroachment Prevention. Diploma Thesis. University of Applied Sciences Wolfenbuettel/Polytechnic of Namibia. 2005.

We are still looking for a nice logo for the Chameleon Project. If you feel comfortable with designing or have some kids who are into drawing Chameleons in no time with two pencil strokes, we would be more than happy to receive your contributions. (more…)

• View the Kalkfeld Area with Google Maps.
• Wikipedia Information on Kalkfeld

• View the Witvlei Area in Google Maps.
• Wikipedia Information on Witvlei.

We have held several workshops with communal as well as commercial farmers and extension workers in order to evaluate

1. the validity and applicability of the information contained in the Decision Support System,
2. the applicability and general scope of the underlying rules and models, as well as
3. usability and computer ergonomic aspects of the system.

Below we give a brief overview of previous workshops, as well as information regarding upcoming workshops you may consider participating in.

The members of the Chameleon Research team at the Polytechnic of Namibia are:

Mr. Ibo ZimmermannDepartment of Agriculture (Bush Encroachment Research and Modeling)
Mr. Dave JoubertDepartment of Nature Conservation (Bush Encroachment Research and Modeling)
Mr. Jens FendlerDepartment of Software Engineering (System Architecture, Design and Implementation)
Dr. Heike WinschiersDepartment of Software Engineering (Usability Research)
Mr. Edward GatonyeDepartment of Software Engineering (Help System Development)
Mr. Colin StanleyDepartment of Software Engineering (Usability Testing)

This project is dedicated to bring together researchers, farmers, extension workers and the interested public in order to seek and discuss applicable solutions to the problem of bush encroachment in sub-saharan Africa.

The Chameleon Web Site is finally online. Besides general information regarding bush encroachment and further background information on specific issues, it contains a Wiki including a Decision Support System (DSS) section that allows you to quickly get suggestions on applicable actions regarding bush encroachment on your farm. (more…)