Author profile
Helge Denker is a Namibian writer, artist and naturalist. He has worked in various sectors within the Namibian tourism and environmental spheres for the past three decades. He compiles information on conservation and the environment for diverse applications and publishes regular articles on environmental issues.
Conservation Namibia bibliography:
Stamps: Mini-Ambassadors or Redundant Markers of Postage Paid?
Postage stamps are becoming obsolete as fewer people send physical mail and postal services become increasingly inefficient. Yet stamps based on nature – like many of Namibia’s stamps – are a beautiful mix of science and art. Stamp designer, artist and writer Helge Denker shares some insights into creating some of Namibia’s award-winning stamps, while contemplating the future of science and art in a digital world.
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Law enforcement alone will not end wildlife crime
Wildlife crime is a complex issue that involves many sectors of society and laws regarding access to natural resources. Helge Denker calls for a nuanced and holistic approach towards poaching and trafficking that considers the circumstances of those involved and the reasons for committing crime. Rather than militarising conservation, people should be able to generate value from wildlife in ways that are legal and sustainable.
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Powerful deterrents against wildlife crime
Wildlife crime in Namibia is being tackled on many fronts. More anti-poaching efforts, better investigations and more stringent penalties are bearing fruit by reducing poaching rates and increasing arrests. Special wildlife courts were set up to deal with the large backlogs in cases involving wildlife crime. The sentences passed by these courts have sent a strong message: wildlife crime in Namibia does not pay.
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Brandberg Lion Attack – a minor drama in a complex conservation landscape
When a desert-adapted lion attacks Helge Denker in his tent near Brandberg, it sets him thinking about the complex situation these lions find themselves in today. Lions are coming ever closer to human settlements after the recent drought followed by scattered rainfall that dispersed their few remaining prey. Communal conservancies bear the brunt of the resulting conflict, but is there a way to create real benefits from these lions? Managing the situation will be difficult, but today we have better knowledge and systems in place to handle it.
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Science be Damned?
In light of the conspiracy theories swirling around the COVID-19 pandemic, Helge Denker asks why science - from zoonotic diseases to conservation research, amongst others - is often doubted while hoaxes are so easily believed. Are we victims of the Dunning-Kruger effect, treating correlation as causation, or just biased for one reason or another?
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What is being done to fight wildlife crime in Namibia?
Namibia’s response to increasing wildlife crime is bearing fruit, particularly since the inception of the Blue Rhino Task Team. Helge Denker shares key statistics and initiatives that reveal how Blue Rhino are tackling poaching of rhinos, elephants and pangolins.
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