Namibia's Kavango East Region Registers Lone Fire Incident Amidst Tree Cover Challenges

Namibia's Kavango East Region Registers Lone Fire Incident Amidst Tree Cover Challenges

A solitary fire incident was recorded in the Kavango East Region of Namibia on September 8, 2024, highlighting the ongoing environmental challenges the country faces. Namibia, with an area of over 82 million hectares, has a relatively small tree cover extent of approximately 3835 hectares. Over the years, the country has experienced a net change in tree cover characterized by a loss of 15674 hectares and a gain of 15114 hectares, resulting in a net loss of around 560 hectares.

The primary driver of tree cover loss in Namibia has been shifting agriculture, contributing significantly to the overall reduction. Other factors, such as forestry activities, have also played a role, albeit to a lesser extent. Notably, wildfires, which are often a major concern in forested regions, have not been a significant driver in recent years, as evidenced by the single fire incident reported.