An office building that was constructed five years ago to accommodate staff members of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in the Kavango East Region's Mukwe Constituency is yet to be occupied.

The building is now dilapidated.

The office was constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform before it was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The staff for whom the building was constructed are currently accommodated at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Office in Divundu.

Namibia plans to ban the use of single-use plastic bags to protect the environment.

The Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta, said this during his ministerial statement in the National Assembly.

Shifeta argues there is nothing beneficial about single-use plastics, but they are a problem for the environment.

He explained that smarter choices need to be made when buying and selling plastic products.

Shifeta stressed that plastic waste stays on the planet for much longer than anyone can imagine, and that is just how bad it is.

Elephants have started destroying crop fields in the Zambezi Region again, leaving residents with little hope.

The jumbos destroyed crop fields at Wuparo, Balyerwa, Dzoti and Bamunu in the Judea Lyabboloma, Linyanti and Sibbinda Constituencies.
 

Lirata Maezi and his family have been waking up to a herd of elephants feasting on their crops since last week.

Maezi says despite putting up fire around the crops field and beating drums to scare them away, nothing seems to be working.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has urged charcoal producers countrywide to adhere to set guidelines to ensure sustainable charcoal production.

The ministry issued the appeal after some harvesters near Outjo in the Otjozondjupa Region chopped down old Mopane trees for charcoal production purposes.

In a media statement, the ministry's Spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, said the harvesters have been fined for cutting down seven Mopane trees that were bigger than 18 centimeters in diameter.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism is pleading with local authorities to adhere to the country's National Solid Waste Management Strategy for the well-being of their residents.

The Ministry's Spokesperson Romeo Muyunda noted that solid waste disposal remains a big challenge in municipalities and local authorities. 

He said the waste collection system at most municipalities is not up to standard.

Muyunda added that the ministry is also concerned with the manner in which dumpsites are created.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism donated 4000 seedlings to public institutions, schools and local authorities across Namibia in celebration of Abor Day this year.

In Namibia, Arbor Day is celebrated every second Friday of October to create awareness of the importance of trees and their preservation.

The word "arbour" originates from the Latin meaning "trees". 

Trees in general are vital because they provide oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil, are a source of food, and materials are used for shelter, furniture, and other household items.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced that the fires outside the Etosha National Park have been suppressed.

The firefighting teams are now busy with the fire burning at the Hobatere lodge. 

A one-day conference for stakeholders in the tourism sector in the Oshikoto Region is underway at Omuthiya.

The conference is organized by the Environment, Forestry and Tourism Ministry in collaboration with UNESCO and with support from GIZ.

The conference is aimed at creating awareness of the importance of sustainable and heritage tourism.

It was noted that as tourism continues to grow, it might have adverse effects on the environment, hence the need for stakeholders to meet to look at the factors that might affect the environment in a negative way.