Namibia's forests under threat
Namibia's forests are threatened by deforestation, which results in desertification, land degradation and biodiversity loss.
These factors can further lead to climate change, said Alka Bhatia, the resident representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Namibia.
She made these remarks during the handover of the Sustainable Management of Namibia's Forested Lands (Nafola) project to the agriculture ministry at an event held in the Omaheke Region.
Bhatia said UNDP Namibia, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), supported the implementation of the Nafola project between December 2014 and December 2019.
The project aimed to reduce pressure on Namibia's forest resources by facilitating the gazettement of community forests and increasing the capacity for the uptake of improved agriculture, livestock and forestry management practices in the community forest areas.
“Through the Nafola project, the UNDP engaged citizens of the Omaheke Region and other regions in Namibia which are vulnerable to climate change to raise awareness regarding area protection with legal status,” Bhatia said.
Additionally, these consultations discussed issues around the management of local forestry resources along with the sharing of benefits, she said.
According to her, this exercise resulted in the gazettement of nine community forests and the development of 10 integrated forest management plans.
The Nafola project also developed a national forest and veld fire management policy and strategy. Finally, the project supported the thinning of three bush-encroached sites, covering a total of 12 hectares.
“At global level, many people depend on forestry resources for livelihoods because of the many benefits they offer such as food, fuel, shelter, medicine and income. However, forests are threatened with degradation,” said Bhatia.
She said it is therefore important to realise that as people are trying to make a living, they tend to over-utilise resources.
According to her, in many cases, people have been engaged in practices that have led to the destruction and loss of forests, which eventually leads to land degradation.
“The situation of degraded lands in Namibia is worrisome, however, as a nation we all have a role to play to reverse the situation in efforts to manage the degraded lands in Namibia.”
According to Bhatia, UNDP significantly supports government to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 15: 'Life on Land'.
She said this goal particularly focuses on managing forests sustainably, halting and reversing land and natural habitat degradation, successfully combating desertification and stopping biodiversity loss.
According to her, since 1990, there has been a reduction of the world's forest areas, with 31.7% of the world's total land mass having been reduced to 30.7% recorded by 2015.
“Such a reduction is attributed to the conversion of forests to other uses, such as agriculture and infrastructure development.”
ELLANIE SMIT
These factors can further lead to climate change, said Alka Bhatia, the resident representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Namibia.
She made these remarks during the handover of the Sustainable Management of Namibia's Forested Lands (Nafola) project to the agriculture ministry at an event held in the Omaheke Region.
Bhatia said UNDP Namibia, with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), supported the implementation of the Nafola project between December 2014 and December 2019.
The project aimed to reduce pressure on Namibia's forest resources by facilitating the gazettement of community forests and increasing the capacity for the uptake of improved agriculture, livestock and forestry management practices in the community forest areas.
“Through the Nafola project, the UNDP engaged citizens of the Omaheke Region and other regions in Namibia which are vulnerable to climate change to raise awareness regarding area protection with legal status,” Bhatia said.
Additionally, these consultations discussed issues around the management of local forestry resources along with the sharing of benefits, she said.
According to her, this exercise resulted in the gazettement of nine community forests and the development of 10 integrated forest management plans.
The Nafola project also developed a national forest and veld fire management policy and strategy. Finally, the project supported the thinning of three bush-encroached sites, covering a total of 12 hectares.
“At global level, many people depend on forestry resources for livelihoods because of the many benefits they offer such as food, fuel, shelter, medicine and income. However, forests are threatened with degradation,” said Bhatia.
She said it is therefore important to realise that as people are trying to make a living, they tend to over-utilise resources.
According to her, in many cases, people have been engaged in practices that have led to the destruction and loss of forests, which eventually leads to land degradation.
“The situation of degraded lands in Namibia is worrisome, however, as a nation we all have a role to play to reverse the situation in efforts to manage the degraded lands in Namibia.”
According to Bhatia, UNDP significantly supports government to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 15: 'Life on Land'.
She said this goal particularly focuses on managing forests sustainably, halting and reversing land and natural habitat degradation, successfully combating desertification and stopping biodiversity loss.
According to her, since 1990, there has been a reduction of the world's forest areas, with 31.7% of the world's total land mass having been reduced to 30.7% recorded by 2015.
“Such a reduction is attributed to the conversion of forests to other uses, such as agriculture and infrastructure development.”
ELLANIE SMIT
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