Hardap Region has committed to planting at least 75 000 trees as part of Namibia’s national drive to plant two million trees by 2035.

Hardap Governor Riaan McNab made the commitment during a courtesy visit by a Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism delegation led by Director of Forestry Johnson Ndokosho, ahead of Friday’s Arbor Day commemoration in Rehoboth.

Ndokosho said Hardap was selected to host this year’s Arbor Day activities to raise awareness about forestry and environmental conservation.

He said the ministry’s planned national tree-planting strategy targets one million trees by 2030 and another million by 2035, with schools, youth, government institutions, businesses, churches and communities encouraged to participate.

The ministry will make about 3 000 seedlings available nationwide from Arbor Day, with more to be distributed to schools and communities.

McNab said Hardap’s 75 000-tree target is achievable if responsibility is shared among the region’s eight constituencies.

“The one million looks too much if you look at the picture, but when you break it down, it’s doable,” McNab said.»

He said the Regional Council would set targets and deadlines for each constituency and pledged that Hardap would strive to exceed its allocation.

The Arbor Day event in Rehoboth will feature tree planting by dignitaries and the distribution of seedlings to schools and communities.

Namibia observes Arbor Day annually on the second Friday of October.