Menongue - The Mavinga National Park, in the south-eastern Cuando Cubango Province, needs at least 1,000 environmental inspectors to secure the full protection of its 46,000 square kilometre area, the head of supervision of the park, Paulo Domingos Dala, has said.

According to Dala, the present 45 inspectors are insufficient to combat illegal activities such as poaching, illegal logging, diamond mining and anarchic fires, amongst others. 

Dala added that aligned with the reduced number of inspectors, the park lacks means of work and transport, a situation that has hampered the surveillance of the park.

Early in March, Dala said, the Ministry of the Environment delivered three vehicles to boost inspections, which are insufficient in view of the size of the park. 

"The inspection process has been difficult. Our hands are tied to respond to the infringements that occur and that have contributed negatively to climate change, especially the increase of drought and global warming, destruction of soil and extinction of several species of trees and animals," Dala explained.

Mavinga National Park is located about 420 kilometres away from Menongue city. JSV/MCN/Amp/jmc