Nkurenkuru: The Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Anselm Marungu, has officially launched the book 'Trees of Nkurenkuru' by former ELCIN Nkurenkuru High School teacher Hans-Martin Milk in Nkurenkuru on Friday.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the book project, which Milk started in 1994, aims to inspire especially young people to recognise, value, and protect the unique trees of Nkurenkuru and Namibia. Speaking at the launch, Marungu emphasized that trees are central to the country's environment and economy. He noted that trees purify the air, absorb carbon dioxide emissions, regulate climate, and filter water, making them vital allies in the fight against climate change.

Marungu highlighted the importance of forests in supporting rural livelihoods and jobs. He stated that the forestry sector significantly contributes to employment through timber, wood carving, and non-timber forest products that provide medicine and food sustaining rural households. He also warned of the serious consequences of destroying trees for wildlife and tourism, urging residents to protect the local trees and forests.

Furthermore, the deputy minister connected the book to national efforts to restore tree cover, mentioning Namibia's plan to plant one million trees in the next two years and the observance of a national tree-planting day in October. He encouraged Nkurenkuru residents to become ambassadors of this initiative.

Hans-Martin Milk, the book's author, shared that his engagement with local learners and the landscape inspired him to document Nkurenkuru's trees. He recounted taking his students through the town three decades ago to showcase its natural beauty and later deciding to create a book from those experiences. Milk expressed his desire for the book to change how young people perceive their environment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing local trees to protect them from careless cutting and fires.