Rehoboth’s Acacia firewood lighting up SA
• Plans for protected area status
Rehoboth's Acacia forest needs to be protected and sustainably managed for the benefit and upliftment of the community, //Otsub said.
At least 20 truckloads of firewood from the Acacia tree forest in Rehoboth are transported to Cape Town and Durban in South Africa every day.
Michael //Otsub, the deputy director of forestry management for the south and central regions, said there is a huge demand for this sought-after firewood, and stressed that these exports need to be regulated.
During a briefing after the Rehoboth town council's two-day land conference on Friday, he said their plan is to do inventory of the area that stretches over 1 200 hectares, and which includes pockets where people farm commercially.
"The ministry and town council want to make this area a protected area under the town council. We are looking at making it a conservancy and the ministry is very willing... Therefore, if we can inventory the area, we can sell this area by building lodges here. Water is not a problem here," he said.
He further highlighted many challenges plaguing this area, including illegal grazing and illegal wood harvesting without permits.
'Think of the environment'
//Otsub pointed out that the Acacia forest provides shade, fodder for wild animals, nesting for birds and construction material on a very limited basis.
"We need to think about payment for eco-system services. There is no control over this area; we need to do something and go around and see how we can conserve this area and manage it sustainably.
"We need to capture data; this area is very significant for research. I don't think there are papers on this area. We really need to fast-track the plan to do something, he said.
According to him, they received complaints recently that people were exporting Acacia firewood from the area.
"Two or three months ago, we were told that people are harvesting commercially in this area. Just individuals, and when we came there was a harvester, a woodcutter; these people were exporting firewood. This wood is premium, I think this is number-one in Namibia," he said.
"I can tell you, every day, close to 20 trucks are running to Cape Town and Durban from this forest and from the commercial farms [in the vicinity]. This need to be regulated and conserved. We need to also talk about the habitat for animals," he stressed.
//Otsub added that there is need for policies, laws and investors and partners to protect the area, but also to manage it sustainably for the benefit and upliftment of the community.
Michael //Otsub, the deputy director of forestry management for the south and central regions, said there is a huge demand for this sought-after firewood, and stressed that these exports need to be regulated.
During a briefing after the Rehoboth town council's two-day land conference on Friday, he said their plan is to do inventory of the area that stretches over 1 200 hectares, and which includes pockets where people farm commercially.
"The ministry and town council want to make this area a protected area under the town council. We are looking at making it a conservancy and the ministry is very willing... Therefore, if we can inventory the area, we can sell this area by building lodges here. Water is not a problem here," he said.
He further highlighted many challenges plaguing this area, including illegal grazing and illegal wood harvesting without permits.
'Think of the environment'
//Otsub pointed out that the Acacia forest provides shade, fodder for wild animals, nesting for birds and construction material on a very limited basis.
"We need to think about payment for eco-system services. There is no control over this area; we need to do something and go around and see how we can conserve this area and manage it sustainably.
"We need to capture data; this area is very significant for research. I don't think there are papers on this area. We really need to fast-track the plan to do something, he said.
According to him, they received complaints recently that people were exporting Acacia firewood from the area.
"Two or three months ago, we were told that people are harvesting commercially in this area. Just individuals, and when we came there was a harvester, a woodcutter; these people were exporting firewood. This wood is premium, I think this is number-one in Namibia," he said.
"I can tell you, every day, close to 20 trucks are running to Cape Town and Durban from this forest and from the commercial farms [in the vicinity]. This need to be regulated and conserved. We need to also talk about the habitat for animals," he stressed.
//Otsub added that there is need for policies, laws and investors and partners to protect the area, but also to manage it sustainably for the benefit and upliftment of the community.
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