KEETMANSHOOP – Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta says the major threats to forests in Namibia are clearing land for agriculture, infrastructure development, and the cutting of wood for domestic use.

He was speaking at the first international conference on afforestation and reforestation in Brazzaville, Congo on Friday, where he said other threats to the country’s forests include uncontrolled wildfires, selective logging through timber concessions, legal and illegal timber harvesting, climate change and habitat destruction by elephants.

The minister said in 2020, the Directorate of Forestry reported an estimated 6.6 million hectares of forest area down from 8.7 million in 1990, translating to more than 2.5% of forests that disappeared since 1990.

“The increase of population goes hand in hand with the increase in unsustainable use of timber for fuel, housing, fencing and fire, which poses a severe strain on the environment, as deforestation not only leads to the loss of resources used for human activities, but results in desertification and severe degradation of land. This is a cause for concern to us, and measures are being taken to reverse this negative situation,” he added.

Shifeta said Namibia is committed to contributing to environmental sustainability, conservation of biological diversity, sustainable forest management and protection of natural resources.

He said in the country’s updated National Determined Contributions submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021, Namibia identified ambitious measures contributing to climate change mitigation, which include the reduction of the deforestation rate by 75%, reforesting 20 000 hectares per year, planting 10 000 ha of trees per year under agroforestry, and planting 5 000 hectares of trees under urban forestry.

The measures also include the restoration of 15.5 million hectares of grassland, and to increase in the share of renewables in electricity production from 33% to 70%.

“In addition, Namibia is committed to the global call for reforestation and afforestation through the commemoration of Arbour Day annually in October, marking the start of the tree planting season, which coincides with the rainy season. Annually, Namibia distributes seedlings as part of reforestation and afforestation efforts,” said Shifeta. -Nampa