Deputy Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) Anselm Marungu says the ministry will continue to ensure safe practices of biodiversity in rural areas to help unlock wealth and job opportunities to address poverty amongst communities living there.

Marungu said this in his keynote address at the commemoration of the International Day of Biological Diversity, held at Khorixas, Kunene region.

Marungu says, despite challenges affecting the ecosystem, the country records successes in the Community Based Natural Resources Management programme, which ensures communal conservancies fully benefit locals through wildlife use and tourism.

"The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's strategic objectives range from strengthening wildlife management and protection, promoting compatible land use in conservation areas, protecting sustainable forest management and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts through the community-based natural resources management programme. The ministry considers the promotion of a biodiversity economy in rural areas as the key to unlocking wealth and job opportunities to reduce poverty."

To achieve heightened biodiversity success, Marungu said the ministry will strengthen the access and benefits-sharing office, which will oversee the biodiversity sectors in the country.

Khorixas mayor Lesley |Aweseb on his part, called for strengthening of measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts that affect many in the town and region.

Persisting drought conditions mean wildlife increasingly competes with people for scarce resources, leading to crop destruction, attacks on livestock, damage to the water infrastructure and threats to human safety. These challenges remind us of the urgent need for stronger interventions, improved mitigation measures and sustainable coexistence that protect both our communities and wildlife heritage."

Former Khorixas Constituency councillor, Sebastian !Gobs also spoke at the event.

"Today's event has reminded us that biological diversity is not only about plants, animals and ecosystems; it is about life itself. Our food security, health, culture, livelihood and future generations to come."

This year's commemoration was held under the theme "Act locally for global impact", which emphasises urgent and practical action to protect ecosystems.