One of the highlights of Coastal Biodiversity Week held at the coast last last week was the launch on Thursday of the colourful 192-page book, 'Namibia's Coast; Ocean Riches and Desert Treasures'.

The book brings together the work done by the Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (Nacoma) since its establishment, and other information pertaining to the Namib Desert and the Benguela Current, and highlights the importance of the area where these two extreme environments meet, according to Nacoma's project coordinator, Rod Braby.

Nacoma's objective is to improve awareness about coastal biodiversity, environmental challenges and the coastal resource value, while also promoting the concept of integrated coastal management.

"The book will improve management, understanding and appreciation of the coast by providing information to a wide audience ranging from managers to learners, tourists and entrepreneurs and the general public," said Braby.

Nacoma, since its establishment in 2006, has run over 400 awareness campaigns and developed a website with a substantial amount of useful information.

Complementary copies of the book will be distributed to schools, the University of Namibia, libraries, government and non-governmental organisations during the next two weeks. A total of 3 000 books were printed.

The remaining books will be sold at bookshops to possibly finance a reprint.

Other activities of Coastal Biodiversity Week included the screening of environmental films and discussions at schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay; a debate about the positive and negative impacts of marine mining.

According to Gys Reitz of Parrot Communications, who is a spokesperson for Nacoma, a "second part" of the Coastal Biodiversity Week will be staged from September 15 to 22.