Ondjiva- The involvement of traditional authorities in combating anarchic burning practices on Monday in the southern Cunene Province, was defended by the head of the Environment department, Tchingungo Contreira.
Speaking to ANGOP, the environmentalist highlighted that the authors of these actions are supposed poachers and small farmers to open new roads, prepare the soil, drive away pests, prepare pasture and above all for the coal fabric.
According to him, the practice is recurrent, particularly in this dry season, admitting the lack of environmental education and social and economic situation of families, who resort to charcoal fabric and hunting for self-sustainability, but which in a certain way harms the environment.
“Excessive fires have negative implications for the environment such as loss of biodiversity, extinction of species, soil impoverishment, respiratory diseases, carbon dioxide emissions, drought and drought, increased temperature and climate change that affects the province”, he maintained.
This time, he emphasized that the preservation of flora and fauna is the task and duty of the entire society, with the traditional authorities being considered important keys because they know better in the communities those who cut down trees and do illegal hunting.
He informed that this year, the sector recorded more than 200 reports of forest fires, with more than 300 hectares of devastated areas, which tend to increase compared to the last two years.
Tchingungo Contreiras informed also the registration of 40 locations in the municipality of Cuvelai (especially inside the National Park of Mupa, Cubate and Calunga), the eastern region of the Cuanhama municipality, as well as the Cahama and Ombadja municipality such as the main areas with fires.
Taking into account that it is a cultural practice of local communities, for him fires must be controlled in order to prevent their spread so that biodiversity and the extinction of animals and plants are preserved.
Meanwhile, he assured that the Office developed pedagogical actions to counter these acts by raising awareness among the people, with the promotion of lectures and awareness campaigns in informal markets and community meetings with religious leaders and traditional authorities.
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