Protect Namibia’s wildlife, ministry urges
Namibia last Thursday celebrated World Wildlife Day under the theme ‘recovering key species for ecosystem restoration’.
This theme seeks to draw attention to the conservation status of some critically endangered species of fauna and flora.
“Since independence, we have managed to grow the populations of our wildlife species, particularly outside national parks. This achievement has come with tangible direct benefits to the country, which includes growth in the tourism sector, employment creation and income generation for rural communities amongst others,” environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said.
For Namibia, its wildlife is its heritage, which means it is a part of its day-to-day livelihood and culture, he said.
“The absence of wildlife will translate to a disruption in our cultural norms, values and debates.”
Muyunda said in accordance with the constitution and other legal instruments, Namibia’s wildlife is a natural resource that must be protected and utilised in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the country’s current and future generations.
“This year’s theme places emphasis on the preservation of critically endangered wildlife species.”
Challenges
He said one of the country’s biggest challenges to conservation is wildlife crime, particularly poaching of wildlife species such as rhinos, elephants and pangolins.
“Even though Namibia has a healthy growing population of elephants, our pangolins and rhinos are threatened and, therefore, we appeal to our citizens to join hands with the government to reverse the current trends of poaching.”
He added that deforestation and unsustainable land use also threaten endangered plant species.
Muyunda urged that Namibians refrain from undertaking unsustainable activities that have the potential to degrade the environment and destabilise the ecosystem such as deforestation, sand mining and desertification.
World Wildlife Day was proclaimed in 2013 at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and is aimed at raising of the world’s animals and plants.
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This theme seeks to draw attention to the conservation status of some critically endangered species of fauna and flora.
“Since independence, we have managed to grow the populations of our wildlife species, particularly outside national parks. This achievement has come with tangible direct benefits to the country, which includes growth in the tourism sector, employment creation and income generation for rural communities amongst others,” environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said.
For Namibia, its wildlife is its heritage, which means it is a part of its day-to-day livelihood and culture, he said.
“The absence of wildlife will translate to a disruption in our cultural norms, values and debates.”
Muyunda said in accordance with the constitution and other legal instruments, Namibia’s wildlife is a natural resource that must be protected and utilised in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the country’s current and future generations.
“This year’s theme places emphasis on the preservation of critically endangered wildlife species.”
Challenges
He said one of the country’s biggest challenges to conservation is wildlife crime, particularly poaching of wildlife species such as rhinos, elephants and pangolins.
“Even though Namibia has a healthy growing population of elephants, our pangolins and rhinos are threatened and, therefore, we appeal to our citizens to join hands with the government to reverse the current trends of poaching.”
He added that deforestation and unsustainable land use also threaten endangered plant species.
Muyunda urged that Namibians refrain from undertaking unsustainable activities that have the potential to degrade the environment and destabilise the ecosystem such as deforestation, sand mining and desertification.
World Wildlife Day was proclaimed in 2013 at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and is aimed at raising of the world’s animals and plants.
[email protected]
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