The Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) and the Hai-/om community, has launched the formation of a solid waste management team to ensure that the environment within Etosha National Park is well managed.

This follows NWR’s realization that the absence of solid waste management can lead to significant environmental problems such as soil/land, water, and aesthetic pollution.

In a media statement on Tuesday, NWR Managing Director Matthias Ngwangwama said the solid waste management team allows different individuals within the Etosha National Park to work together, adding that without managing solid waste, Namibia risks losing its reputation as a destination of choice for various tourists.

‘Although the solid waste management initiative is currently only operating in the Etosha National Park, I hope that the current volunteers will turn this initiative into a business enterprise that will run across all of the country’s National Parks. I’d also like to thank Rent-a-Drum, one of our long-term solid waste management partners. Simultaneously, I am encouraging more stakeholders to join us in combating solid waste, which will result in an improvement in our environment,’ he said.

Meanwhile, NWR Environmental and Compliance Specialist Fransiska Nghitila in the statement said, as part of the celebration of World Arbor Day last month, the team has planted 40 indigenous trees to replace the ageing ones in Okaukuejo.

‘In Namutoni and Olifantsrus, we also planted 14 and 25 trees, respectively. As Warren Buffet famously stated, ‘someone is sitting in the shade today because someone decided to plant a tree.’ As a result, it is critical that we all observe this day for the sake of future generations,’ she stated.

World Arbor day is held to raise awareness on the importance of tree conservation and to discourage human activities that endanger trees and forests, such as deforestation and land degradation.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency