Despite the timber harvesting ban being lifted last year, many timber harvesters and carpenters in the Kavango East Region remain unaware of the change.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism initially imposed the ban in 2018 to curb the unsustainable harvesting of trees.

Several timber harvesters and carpenters in Kavango East, who spoke to nbc News, expressed how the ban impacted their livelihoods. For carpenters, the price of logs soared, forcing many out of business and leaving them unemployed.

Some of the harvesters were communal farmers who had just started harvesting timber, making roughly N$100,000 per typical harvest. However, after their first and only harvest, the ban was enforced, preventing them from harvesting for five years.

When asked for an update, Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed that the ban had been lifted last year. However, it seems the announcement went largely unnoticed, as there was no public statement.

Muyunda explained that the Ministry had informed regional offices and community forests, who were responsible for relaying the information to local communities.

"The ban has been removed, allowing harvesting for those with registered properties or communal forests. People can obtain permits if they meet the requirements, such as having a longer leasehold or an environmental clearance certificate. Harvesting has resumed in these areas," said Muyunda.

He emphasized that harvesting timber in open areas without a permit remains illegal. Regarding exports, Muyunda clarified that only processed or semi-processed timber can be exported.