On February 26, 2019 the first SCIONA Advisory Board Meeting was held at Kleines Heim Guesthouse in Windhoek, Namibia. Members from NUST, ISCED, EU delegation of Namibia, Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia and the Ministry of Environment in Angola were all present. The discussions focused around the outputs and activities of year one of the project, the management plans of Skeleton Coast National Park and Iona National Park, EU regulations on budgeting and reporting and finally the way forward for the project.

A community engagement took place from the 20th to the 22nd of February 2019 in Okapare village, Epupa conservancy, northern Kunene. The workshop was opened by the host, Chief Muniovimuaha Muniombara, and attended by about 50 persons. The Chief welcomed the Angolan delegation consisting of the administrator of Iona Mr. Aristides António Tumbo, the chief of the Ovahimba in Iona Mr. Tchiquenga Hepute, together with six Iona community members.

A group of eight SCIONA collaborators undertook a field trip to the southern part of the SCNP to investigate insect fauna, detritus (plant litter), soil microorganisms, reptile population and soil characteristics of the area between Springbokwasser and Terrace Bay. Elise Nghalipo collected measurements and soil samples for her PhD project.  The soil samples will be used to measure soil carbon pools and the stability of these pools associated with plant hummocks.

The Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism held a Stakeholders Consultative Meeting for the implementation of the Iona Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Park on the 21st of August in Windhoek.