Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has raised the alarm about the rapid decline in wildlife habitat due to deforestation, writes the Namibia Economist newspaper on March 4.
In a statement issued over the weekend to mark World Wildlife Day, which was celebrated on March 3, ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda highlighted the urgent need to address the challenges facing local wildlife, namely, increased deforestation and industrial emissions, which are exacerbating the impacts of change. Climate change hinders efforts to manage natural resources sustainably.
“The need to stimulate our economy has led to the rapid disappearance of forests and wooded areas to make way for development projects. These ecosystems provide critical habitat for rare and endangered wildlife species. At the same time, increased industrial activity generates greenhouse gas emissions, which worsens the depletion of the ozone layer and contributes to climate change.”Muyunda pointed out.
Another major threat to Namibia’s wildlife is poaching, especially of high-value species such as rhinos, elephants and pangolins (pangolins). “Recent trends indicate a sharp increase in poaching within our borders. “Unprecedented levels of poaching are depleting our valuable resources.”Muyunda complained.
“Our globally recognized endangered species face a bleak future. “At the current rate of poaching, we are in danger of extinction of these magnificent creatures.”the ministry representative warned.
According to Muyunda, the statistics on poaching are alarming: 67 rhinos and eight elephants were poached last year alone. In addition, eight rhinos have already been illegally killed this year. Over the last decade, 631 cases of poaching have been reported in Namibia, with the year 2022 leading the number of cases.
Muyunda attributed the current poaching to poverty: people are attracted to even small amounts of money, despite a lack of local demand for ivory, rhino horns and pangolin scales.
However, he noted, law enforcement efforts have yielded results: In 2023, 139 suspects in crimes against rhinos and elephants were arrested, and a significant number of firearms and vehicles were confiscated from poachers.
Muyunda called on Namibians to unite against those who commit wildlife crimes, highlighting the importance of conserving their resources for current and future generations.
Source: Rossa Primavera
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.