Kavango Regions Seize 3,556 Illegal Planks in Two Years
Namibian authorities confiscated over 3,500 illegally harvested planks in the Kavango regions over the past year to combat deforestation. Local residents have also raised concerns about unauthorized logging activities occurring under the guise of electricity infrastructure maintenance.
Why it matters
Illegal logging threatens biodiversity and local ecosystems, making the enforcement of forestry laws critical for environmental sustainability in Namibia.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism confiscated 3,556 illegally harvested planks in the Kavango East and Kavango West Regions between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 as part of their efforts to curb illegal logging and protect Namibia’s forests.
Kavango East and West Chief Forester Jonas Mwiikinghi said the ministry also issued 14 admission of guilt fines, while six court cases were opened against individuals allegedly involved in forestry-related offences during the reporting period.
Mwiikinghi said the Ministry is simply enforcing the Forestry Act and protecting the country’s forest resources from illegal exploitation.
He urged members of the public to refrain from harvesting, transporting or trading timber products without the required permits, warning that offenders face prosecution, fines and confiscation of forest products.
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