Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said Saturday that rapid deforestation and industrial emissions in the country are causing habitat loss for rare and endangered wildlife, exacerbating climate change impacts such as droughts and floods, and hindering efforts to sustainably manage natural resources for future generations. In a statement commemorating World Wildlife Day, Romeo Muyunda, the ministry's spokesperson, underscored the critical need to address the challenges facing Namibia's wildlife. "The need to grow our economies is resulting in forests and woodlands disappearing at a rapid rate to make way for development projects. These forests and woodlands are home to wildlife species, some of which are rare and endangered. We are also experiencing an increase in industrial activities emitting greenhouse gases that further contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer, leading to climate change," he said. Muyunda said another significant challenge to Namibia's wildlife is poaching, particularly of high-value species such as rhinos, elephants and pangolins.