NMSF Secretary General Garth Panton said the federation will regulate the popular annual Desert Run motorcycle tour and participants will be held accountable for any damage to the ecology.

Every year, off-road enthusiasts from South Africa flock to the coastal dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where there seems to be no official control over off-road activities, said Panton.

"It would seem that, as South Africa has passed laws protecting their own ecology, South Africans have no choice but to come to Namibia, where no such laws exist as yet and where they can consequently ruin our ecology with impunity."

Frequent reports on the irreparable damage to the environment and the frustrations that local residents have to endure during such events have compelled the federation to become involved.

"We at the NMSF do not only regulate and control motor sport competitions, but we are additionally responsible for all aspects of touring in Namibia, which obviously includes environmental issues," Panton said.

The NMSF, as the internationally recognised authority controlling motor sport in Namibia, will co-operate with the Government and local authorities to ensure that laws on environmental preservation are passed, according to Panton.

Current and past stakeholders include the Swakopmund Municipality and Traffic Department, Walvis Bay Municipality, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, private quad bike operators at the coast, the Namibian Police and various environmental pressure groups.

Panton stressed the importance of public involvement and urged concerned citizens to be vigilant and report transgressions to the authorities.

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