Nam lauded for fighting desertification

By: ABSALOM SHIGWEDHA

THE Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) says he is happy with Namibia’s preparation to host the 11th Conference Conference of Parties to this international environmental agreement.

Benin-born Luc Gnacadja  was in Namibia last week to assess logistics ahead of the Conference of Parties to the UNCCD to be held in September this year.
Gnacadja said he has seen the level of dedication and commitment from Namibia to host the conference.
He said one of the reasons why Namibia was chosen to host the conference was because of the impressive fight against desertification and land degradation.
Gnacadja said there are challenges with the infrastructure available and there might be need for temporary structures.
The UNCCD Secretariat has sent two experts to help the Namibian government in preparing for the conference to be held in Windhoek from 14-28 September 2013. Additional UN teams are expected to come from Geneva, Bonn and New York in order to take care of issues such as security arrangements.
This will be third time Africa will be hosting the UNCCD Conference of Parties and the first time it is being held in the SADC region. It has only been held in Kenya and Senegal.
Namibia ratified the UNCCD in 1997. The objective is to fight desertification and land degradation, especially in those parts of the world experiencing serious drought such as Africa. Environment and Tourism Minister Uahekua Herunga said Namibia will pull out all stops to make it a success.
“We have a strong will to make it an African success,” he said.
Herunga said the conference comes at a time Namibia is facing a serious drought and it is his hoped that it will come up with solutions to address the situation.

*Absalom Shigwedha is a freelance environmental journalist. E-mail: absalom.shigwedha@gmailcom

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