Oshikoto - The environment ministry has raised concern over the increase in cases, arrests, convictions and seizures relating to plants in Namibia. The ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda told Nampa last week that plants provide the broad primary production layer for healthy environments, but their vital function is often overlooked. He said seizures of plant products have been significant, considering that these related to 22 arrests in 2022. "Clearly, plant products are being illicitly harvested and trafficked in large volumes, which can have a rapid impact on plant populations, especially those of rare species with a localised distribution," he said. Muyunda added that the main targets include Adenia, Conophytum, Lithops, Cyphostemma, Pachypodium and Commiphora. "Most of these generally include species or sub-species endemic to Namibia. Many have a very localised distribution and are extremely slow-growing, which makes them susceptible to rapid extinction in the wild," he said.