A 25-MINUTE environmental awareness film titled 'The Namib Desert Coast' has made its appearance on the worldwide web.

The film was made by the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (Nacoma) and is being used to spread awareness of the coastline's environmental sensitivity and vulnerability.

The aim is to promote sustainable conservation, management and development of the area. The film was produced by Francois Odendaal Productions for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

Initially shown on NBC and One Africa TV, it also screened at a Swakopmund cinema, attended by about 100 people.

It took about a year to make the film and, according to Odendaal, who has already filmed in 18 countries, the Namib Desert Coast was a unique project.

"The filming experience in Namibia was unique, with its variety of fauna, flora, landscapes and people. It was obvious that all the elements form one eco-system. I hope this movie will help people protect this precious asset, not just for Namibians, but for the world," he said.

The film focuses on Namibia's 1 570km stretch of coastline as a fascinating place, rich in history and biodiversity; worth exploring and learning more about, and certainly worth protecting. It highlights the fact that the coast is also home to human settlements and industries such as mining, fishing and tourism that contribute significantly to the nation's economy.

"Increasing human pressures over the past years highlight the urgent need for sound coastal planning and management to ensure sustainable and optimal use of coastal areas and their resources for future generations," a synopsis of the film states. "Now is the time for all Namibians and visitors to rally together to conserve and use wisely our unique coastal and marine environment."

This film presents the beauty, diversity and resources of the coastal environment and encourages the man on the street, businesses and Government to become 'Coastodians'.

The film will be available on DVD soon, but in the meantime it can be viewed on the Internet at www.nacoma.org.na/Our_Coast/TheNamibDesertCoastFilm.htm.

For facilitating screening on slow connection, the film was cut into three parts: Introduction to the Namibian coastal areas (part 1); Coastal natural processes and biodiversity (part two); and Activities, threats and potentials on the Namibian coast and way forward (part three).