OMAUNI: Representatives of 19 community forest management committees from six regions signed forest management agreements with the government at Omauni village in the Ohangwena Region yesterday.

Present at the signing of the agreements were the chairpersons and secretaries of different community-based forest management committees from the regions of Caprivi, Kavango, Kunene, Ohangwena, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa.

The signing of the agreements symbolised the committees’ commitment towards the proper management and sustainable utilisation of forestry resources in their respective regions.

Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa was also present at Omauni to sign the agreements with the committee representatives on behalf of Government yesterday afternoon.

The idea of the initiative is to empower members of the said committees to manage and sustainably utilise the local forestry resources to the benefit of their respective communities.