WINDHOEK, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has called for an end to illegal sand and gravel mining, warning that unregulated extraction is causing serious environmental damage and posing risks to human life, wildlife, and food security.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel said illegal sand and gravel mining activities have increased across various parts of the country, with many operations taking place without the required Environmental Clearance Certificates.
The minister stressed that all sand and gravel mining activities must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment, an environmental management plan, and approval from the office of the environmental commissioner.
Illegal mining has resulted in land degradation, erosion of riverbanks, destruction of wetlands and agricultural land, and damage to infrastructure, Daniel said, adding that open pits left behind by unregulated mining operations often fill with water during the rainy season, posing serious dangers to people, livestock, and wildlife, particularly children.
Namibia, one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, relies heavily on fragile ecosystems for water supply, grazing land, and food production.
While acknowledging rising demand for sand and gravel driven by national development priorities such as road construction, housing, and other infrastructure projects, the minister said economic development must not come at the cost of irreversible environmental harm.
To address the growing challenge, the government plans to undertake regional stakeholder engagements on new sand and gravel mining regulations aimed at strengthening implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, Daniel said.
She urged individuals, businesses, and local and traditional authorities to desist from illegal mining activities and to comply fully with existing environmental regulations. ■