Bush Talks brings together different actors of the biomass sector in Namibia to exchange knowledge, share best practices and coordinate efforts for sustainable and economically viable use of bush biomass.

Talking to the experts: What is bush encroachment?

Dr Jerome Boois

National Botanical Research Institute

The Department of Forestry has developed a tool which quantifies the level of encroachment as well as the levels of harvesting that can occur on a specific piece of rangeland. Jerome Boois says officials from the Directorate of Forestry are being trained to use the tool: “They should be the ones doing the assessments on the farm and see whether there is enough biomass available … for the farmer to do biomass harvesting and in that way they can issue a permit or not depending on the availability of biomass.”

Stephan Bezuidenhout

Environmental Compliance Consultancy

Stephan Bezuidenhout (Environmental Compliance Consultancy) shares information on the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). “Under FSC there is actually a standard written specifically for the Republic of Namibia. And this standard dictates that biomass quantification needs to be monitored in a scientific methodology…. [FSC] is a voluntary standard, however, it is required by various markets and thereby becoming a standard that needs to be implemented throughout the country,” he says.

Agnes Tjiramba

Farmer in the Omaheke Region

Agnes Tjiramba, farmer in the Omaheke region, has been involved in bush control for around eight years. She is pleased with the income she generates through charcoal production and she is starting to see the benefits of bush thinning: “My farmland is very small, but I won’t be affected by drought now, because I have a lot of grass. I have a lot of fodder through bush thinning.”

John Pallett

Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment

“Farmers must realise that they are really looking after the grassland and the soil more than the cattle,” says John Pallett (Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment). There are a number of principles that help to manage rangeland, such as knowing the resource base, managing for effective rest and recovery, enhancing soil condition and addressing bush encroachment.

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What are we going to do with all this biomass?

An enormous sustainable biomass resource is growing in Namibia. This unique Namibian situation which presents itself as a very strong competitive advantage for Namibia and one of the most sustainable biomass resources in the world is what is discussed in this video - an excerpt taken from the in-studio panel discussion with the Deputy Executive Director of Industrial Development at the Ministry of Trade and Industrialisation, Michael Humavindu, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Chamber of Environment, Dr Chris Brown, as well as the Managing Director of Carbon Capital, Colin Lindeque.

1. A Unique Namibian Situation

An enormous sustainable biomass resource is growing in Namibia. The situation is unique: 45 million hectares of the country are considered ‘bush encroached’. This equates to 1.5 billion tonnes of biomass of which 30 per cent could be harvested sustainably. These estimates do not consider the annual expansion in bush-encroached areas as well as the regrowth in harvested areas. Currently, about 2 million tonnes of biomass are removed per year.

“It is a sustainable, long-term harvest; it’s not going to be depleted in the near term. So it’s something which will be with us for a long time,” explains Chris Brown from the Namibian Chamber of Environment at a recent panel discussion of the Dialogue Platform. “Also, it’s carbon neutral. And in terms of global energy requirements at the moment, that gives us a very, very strong competitive advantage. Eurocentric rangeland management practices have resulted in this bush encroachment. So what we’re focusing on is restoring rangelands to their pre-damaged condition.”

Colin Lindeque, Managing Director of Carbon Capital, even places Namibia at the top of the world: “I’d say it’s the most sustainable or one of the most sustainable biomass resources in the world.”

2. "Its an Enabler Bush"

Michael Humavindu, Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, focusses on the opportunities. “It’s an enabler bush for industrialisation, for job creation, for environmental sustainability, and also to ensure that we have an ecological carbon sink that is sustained. So that’s our message as a Ministry.”

In terms of development, it is strategically significant that “biomass is intrinsically decentralised”, as Colin Lindeque puts it. “What we need to ensure in the country is that not everyone loses all opportunities in the rural areas and floods the cities. Our cities cannot sustain the entire Namibian population. So the biomass industry really has a critical role to play in the economic development of the country.”

Chris Brown amplifies the point that the biomass industry is well positioned to benefit the Namibian population at large: “One of the best ways to ensure food security is for people to have jobs. When people have money in their pocket, they can buy food. And the more jobs that can be created through this industry, the better. So job creation for me is often the most important aspect that we can be looking at.”

3. Biomass Export Brings Back Benefits

Considering the huge resource, Namibia’s domestic market is tiny. Furthermore, in most cases, higher prices can be realised in export markets. “It’s important for us to get the best value possible for our resources and sometimes export markets allow that,” Colin Lindeque points out.

The export of biomass products not only realises higher prices, but often brings back high ecological and social standards. European consumers, especially, want the products they purchase to be produced as sustainably and as ethically as possible. For that, they are prepared to pay a premium. Standards such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for charcoal, for example, raise the bar in harvesting practice and socioeconomic responsibility in Namibia.

“When you are able to create a traceable standard system right to where that charcoal is harvested and produced, you’re able to ensure that entity is adhering to the best labour and safety regulations. And from us as the Ministry of Trade, that’s what we want to see,” Michael Humavindu explains.

The 2023 Biomass Fair

With 45 million hectares of the country considered “bush encroached”, Namibia finds itself in a unique situation – one which holds the potential to provide revenue and opportunity. And indeed, a dynamic industry is developing around the biomass resource. Here is a summary of what was discussed at the recent Standard Bank Biomass Fair 2023.

Under the theme Igniting the Growth of the Biomass Sector in Namibia the three-day Standard Bank Biomass Fair showcased biomass technology as well as field demonstrations to promote the booming biomass sector in Namibia.

Implemented by the Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG), the Charcoal Association of Namibia (CAoN) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), this event brought together stakeholders from all over the globe to network and exchange best practices and knowledge on bush control and biomass utilisation.

The Biomass Sector's Promising Future: What Lies Ahead?

In the vast landscapes of Namibia lies a hidden treasure – biomass, a renewable powerhouse that holds the key to igniting progress in the nation. With the potential to fuel economic growth, create sustainable energy, and promote environmental restoration, biomass in Namibia is on the cusp of transforming the country into a greener and more prosperous nation. The time has come to unlock this potential and harness the power of biomass for the benefit of all Namibians.

Biomass Utilisation in Namibia: “A resilient sector with continuous growth”

Stakeholders are clear – the future is bright! Timo Mufeti, Environmental Commissioner, highlights the need for upscaling projects and regulatory improvements to keep the sector growing.

Coordinating the Biomass Sector: A Collective Effort!

Joseph Pechsini and Progress Kashandula emphasize the importance of inclusivity and collaboration among private sector, research, and government to achieve socio-economic development.

A Namibian Biomass Board coming soon… regulation and the future of the sector

Stakeholders advocate for a Biomass Board establishment and the revision of the Forestry Act. Director of Forestry discusses the need for self-regulation, collaboration, and addressing industry challenges.

Johnson Ndokosho – the Director of Forestry in the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism unpacks the importance, success and future of the bush biomass sector in the country – a landscape restoration project with enormous socio-economic potential.

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Disclaimer

The National Dialogue Platform on Bush Resources, jointly implemented by the Namibia Chamber of Environment and the Namibia Nature Foundation, aims to bring together relevant ministries, civil society and representatives from the private sector to navigate the complex and multi-disciplinary problem of bush encroachment by discussing strategic challenges and opportunities, enhancing information sharing, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and best practices, coordinating activities and research and developing appropriate knowledge materials and products, as well as information systems to support responsible bush control activities and the bush biomass sector.

This project is shared on the Venture Media website as a communications platform.