A forester in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Eengombe growth point in the Uuvudhiya constituency of the Oshana region says veld fires not only destroy grasslands for livestock but, they also cause habitat destruction for micro-organisms, insects and small wildlife populations. Akwilinus Hinanane says veld fires cause an invasive species risk because cleared land allows aggressive, non-palatable weeds to take over the ecosystem.
“There is also a challenge of long-term recovery with slow regeneration as perennial grasses can take multiple seasons to fully recover their nutritional value,” says Hinanane.
Hinanane says the Uuvudhiya veld fire damaged the locally known iitulu plant species. This shrub hosts the edible worms known as okatalashe, serves as browse mainly for small livestock and has roots used for medicinal purposes.
“Its roots are used as tannin and dye. The other tree or shrub affected in the area was the acacia species which is mostly browsed by both livestock and wildlife. Since the affected area is part of the Iilpumbu Ya Tshilongo conservancy, there is wildlife which depends on these shrubs,” says Hinanane. He says mopane shrubs were also affected.
“Burning such shrub tree species means a huge collapse of dry-season food for herbivores, the disruption of nutrient cycles and the loss of habitat for small wildlife,” he says.
Meanwhile, Uuvudhiya Farmers Association chairperson Andreas Amakutsi says cutline construction is the best way to fight veld fires in the country. Amakutsi says cutlines prevent veld fires from spreading across grazing land, as they create barren areas within grasslands.
“Maybe people can even contribute some money to such initiatives, so they can meet the government halfway. Let’s say each household can contribute N$200 or N$300,” says Amakutsi.
Amakutsi says apart from cutlines, there is also a need for farmers and animal herders to be educated on the dangers of veld fires, as they can destroy grazing land on which cattle depend for survival.
