Namibia’s natural ecosystem is endangered by a terrible drought and the proliferation of invasive species
This year, the government of Namibia has officially declared a state of natural disaster because of the severe drought. This drought has had a dramatic impact on the country’s biodiversity and population. The declining rainfall has also caused a phenomenon called bush encroachment. In Namibia, more than half of the country’s open savannah is now covered by thorny bush. These invasive and encroacher species are spreading extensively, while other plant species and edible grass are becoming scarce. This situation has an adverse effect on the ecological cycle and the overall productivity of Namibian farms.
Developing innovative solutions
Experts found that an agricultural area estimated area of 30-45 million hectares is already affected by bush encroachment, which is approximately 30% of Namibia's total land area*. Clearing the bush has been costly and time-consuming. According to the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the German development agency, commercial farms often use chemicals to combat bushes, while the government has financed small-scale, labor-intensive bush clearance on state farms. But these efforts to stop the spread of bushes and invasive thorns have been insufficient.
There is a real need to develop local infrastructure and appropriate technologies that can transform and use biomass in an economically and environmentally responsible way. The production of charcoal made exclusively from bush represents an innovative, though partial, solution.
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certifies both the affected land and the supply chain actors, thereby ensuring that the charcoal products are compliant with its standards and verified from responsible sources. This has allowed for stable markets in Europe to be strengthened over time with an increase in demand created for charcoal from responsible sources.
FSC-certified charcoal, a responsible choice for consumers
In many parts of the world, summertime is the official kick-off of the barbecue season. And supermarkets have to stock up on wood charcoal to face the increasing summer demand. Few consumers know that most of the barbecue charcoal they buy comes from Namibia.
Namibia is the 5th largest exporters of charcoal in the world. According to WWF UK, the UK is the third-largest importer of charcoal (by volume) from tropical and subtropical countries (after Germany and Belgium). The largest country in terms of volume supplying the UK in 2014 was Namibia.
The growth in charcoal demand has led to an increase in illegally harvested wood, primarily from the tropics and virgin forests in Europe, Africa, and South America. Consumers, therefore, must be attentive and identify charcoal from legally, socially, and ecologically responsible forestry by looking for the FSC label.
FSC is committed to ecological forest management, in which social aspects such as occupational health and safety of workers or the rights of indigenous communities play a central role. FSC only certifies charcoal if the manufacturer can prove that it complies with the FSC requirements. External auditors from accredited certification bodies regularly inspect FSC-certified companies.
Contrary to popular belief, sustainable consumption can be affordable. In 2019, the German supermarket chain Aldi committed to exclusively selling FSC certified charcoal. Aldi informs its customers of the sustainable impact of their purchase when choosing FSC certified charcoal.
A winning formula
In the last year, there has been a highly significant growth (74%) of FSC certified hectares of charcoal farms in Namibia (690 938 ha as of 02 December 2019).
Consumers are reassured that buying FSC certified charcoal from Namibia does not contribute to deforestation. On the contrary, the sold biomass has a positive impact on the Namibian society in many respects. Not only is bush clearance economically profitable, but it also creates jobs, contributes to Namibia’s economic growth, and gives a responsible option for consumers in Europe.
In rural areas, where bush thickening is most severe, it encroached on animal habitats and human settlements. The selective harvesting and thinning of encroacher and bush thickening tree species ensure a secure habitat for biodiversity and local employment. All activities, from bush harvesting to the charcoal production and local processing creates jobs and added value in the country while ensuring greater transparency in the supply chain. The FSC National Forest Stewardship Standard for Namibia ensures worker’s rights and safe working conditions are respected. FSC certification has proven to be a winning formula for the country, local communities, and consumers over the last 18 years of certification.
*Source GIZ: Project number: 2011.2200.1: Bush biomass in Namibia, commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).