The Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Namibia, Gosia Lachut, has urged the Namibian Government to implement stringent measures to combat poaching and illegal resource harvesting.

During a roundtable discussion on poaching and Namibia’s forestry resources, themed ‘Stop Poaching Namibia’s Forestry Resources,’ hosted by the EU Delegation, Lachut emphasised the need for Namibian laws to enforce strict measures in order to prevent the ongoing issues of poaching and illegal resource harvesting.

Lachut said one-fifth of Namibia’s forestry resources have been lost over the past 30 years.

She attributed the loss primarily to wildfires, agricultural activities, and the illegal harvesting of forestry resources.

“We should be more ecologically mindful of our resources. Forestry should be equally considered just as oil and gas, and we should take care of the little we are left with, as Namibian resources all belong to Namibians as well as to the new generation,” she said.

Assuring continued support, Lachut affirmed the EU’s commitment to collaborate closely with Namibia and assist forestry stakeholders in safeguarding the country’s resources.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency