Working with Wood - Namibia

Namibia, the country of amazing sunsets… Formerly a German colony, 1884, much of this heritage is still in amazing great shape. Game, biltong and firewood with hospitality included makes Namibia one of the greatest countries to visit.

Hard woods like Kiaat (Teak) produced from Namibian sawmills is mainly used for furniture production. Between 1993 and 1995 about 4410 cubic metres of sawn timber were produced. Most soft woods are imported from South Africa. Estimated at 25000 cubic metres.

Namibia boast one of the best organised charcoal industries in Africa. Charcoal is made from encroachment species such as Acacia mellifera to remove unwanted bush from beef production farms.

Mopane roots: Mopane roots, harvested from Colophospermum mopane, are used as ornaments in fish aquaria and for decorative purposes. In 1997/98 four hundred and thirty six (436) tons of Mopane roots were exported to South Africa, 29 tons to United States and 152 tons to Europe.

Wood products worth N$314.3 million were exported between 1997 and 1999.