‘We Have to Protect What We Have Left’: Guardian of the Forests – Benita Kaghuvi’s Mission to Stop the Flames

As wildfires escalate in Namibia’s Kavango East Region, one woman’s dedication is helping to protect forests, livelihoods and future generations.

“When I was younger, forest fires were rare,” says Benita Makena Kaghuvi, seated under a tall false mopane tree in Cakuma village. “Now they are happening all the time. It’s not just the heat or the wind; it’s also how we use fire without thinking.”

Benita, a 42-year-old mother of five, lives with her husband and children in the Muduva Nyangana Conservancy and Community Forest (CCF) in Namibia’s Kavango East Region. She’s one of many residents who have seen first-hand how fires have shifted from occasional threats to yearly disasters, threatening everything from food security to the local economy.

A growing danger to forests and livelihoods

Each year, more than 100 000 hectares of land are lost to wildfires in this region. Trees, edible plants, and pastureland are scorched, affecting food supplies, household incomes, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

“These fires don’t just burn trees,” says Benita. “They burn our income and our way of life.”

Poor fire management, unsupervised hunting, and agricultural expansion are adding fuel to the fire. But things are beginning to change, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Namibia and the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP) Project called "Integrated landscape management to reduce, reverse and avoid further degradation and support the sustainable use of natural resources in the Mopane-Miombo belt of northern Namibia".

Forest fires pose a serious threat to Namibia’s ecosystems and communities. In Muduva Nyangana Conservancy and Community Forest, community members receive hands-on training in fire control techniques. ©MEFT/Erikka Mokanya

Equipping communities to lead the response

In 2023, Benita was selected for intensive fire management training under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led DSL-IP Namibia Child Project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform.

Benita joined a group of ten from her conservancy to learn practical techniques, including how to create fire cutlines, identify high-risk zones, and work in coordinated teams.

“We learned how to use the tools properly and how to keep safe while working. The training gave us confidence,” Benita says. That same year, her team cleared 36 kilometres of strategic firebreaks. By 2024, they had added 56 more kilometres.

“It’s hard work,” she admits. “But it means our homes, our farms, and our forests are safer.”

Supporting livelihoods through sustainable harvesting

The DSL-IP Project is also helping communities diversify their income through sustainable forest-based enterprises. Benita is now harvesting Devil’s Claw, a native plant used in herbal medicine, through a value chain that emphasizes conservation.

“With this income, I’ve paid for my children’s school needs and bought food,” she says. “This kind of support changes lives.”

Her community's fire management efforts are part of a broader strategy aligned with national and global goals, including land degradation neutrality and community-led resource protection.

Leadership within the conservancy guarantees that all villages participate in fire management. The teams include men and women, the young and elderly, working shoulder to shoulder.

“Everyone in the conservancy feels responsible,” says Benita. “It’s not one person’s job to protect the forest—it’s everyone’s.”

A firebreak created by community members in Muduva Nyangana Conservancy and Community Forest serves as a critical line of defense against forest fires. ©MEFT/Erikka Mokanya

A future rooted in resilience

Namibia’s forests face mounting pressure from climate change. But Benita’s story shows that empowered communities can be the first and strongest line of defence. “If the forest burns, we lose more than trees,” she says. “We lose our identity.”

Through its integrated approach, the DSL-IP Namibia Child Project is helping people like Benita restore landscapes and reclaim their future. One firebreak, one training session, and one determined resident at a time.