He is youthful and driven by a profound passion. In his own words, Leroy describes himself as a ‘town boy that de-urbanised.’ He stands at the helm of Miombo Forestry Products, a Namibian enterprise dedicated to timber processing and carpentry, with a vision to redefine the narrative surrounding timber harvesting in the region. He firmly believes that poverty, rather than timber harvesting, is the cause of deforestation. Conversing with Leroy reveals a person deeply rooted in his convictions, much like the towering trees of the forest. His commitment lies not only in fostering growth within others, but also in safeguarding our precious natural heritage.
ROOTED AMBITIONS
Leroy Diocotlhe was born and raised at Döbra, just 25 kilometres outside of Windhoek. Schooled in the capital city and having studied information technology and software development, Leroy decided to take a completely new direction in life after reading the government policy around Vision 2030 and realising the level at which our natural resources are being exploited. In a profound moment of anger about the situation, Leroy decided to focus on a career that would support natural resource management.
“No one was doing anything significant with our hardwoods, except for local crafters. A lot wasn’t controlled back then, the act had loopholes and without timber being processed here, and no one having the machinery or experience to do so, exploitation was rife.”
Miombo Forestry Products was named after the Miombo Woodlands, a shared transnational forest ecosystem covering 2.7 million square kilometres across eight Southern African countries. These woodlands are considered one of the biggest and most important ecosystems in the world, sustaining more than 100 million rural and 50 million urban Africans.
HARVESTING HOPE
Despite being the first company in Namibia to receive an environmental clearance certificate to process timber, Miombo Forestry Products had to deal with many rejections before the company took off. Leroy explains, “At the time, the timber industry was perceived to be an unbankable endeavour, made worse by the rampant illegal harvesting of our timber resources. But I am proud to say that we have emerged as pioneers in the industry.”
Looking back on his journey, Leroy says, “I’ve grown in leaps and bounds from when I first started, and so has the industry. There’s been a lot of awareness created, from the Ministry to NGOs and various stakeholders. Today, I’m creating school furniture for the Ministry of Education.” A remarkable feat considering that in the past, Namibia’s school furniture needed to be imported.
Leroy explains that 90% of the wood he uses is sourced from Angola. “Only 10% of our landmass is woody. This is why I have collaborated with Angolans and Zambians to source wood that is local to the region and reduce the carbon footprint.”
PRESERVING NATURE, EMPOWERING PEOPLE
Leroy emphasises the significance of local wood harvesting in Namibia, despite relatively low levels of timber extraction. He points out that a major driver of deforestation in the country stems from the lack of access to basic amenities like water and electricity in rural areas. In response, Miombo Forestry Products has launched an initiative dubbed “Timber to Water”. Under this programme, they compensate local communities who own the resources by providing them with water. By monetising wood sustainably, the initiative aims to discourage communities from resorting to indiscriminate tree felling, thereby fostering environmental conservation and community empowerment simultaneously.
Another interesting aspect of Leroy’s timber harvesting is that, in Namibia, he does not chop down trees; he thins or prunes them. He explains that this is a sustainable use practice that helps the forest to thrive. “Thinning and pruning can be healthy for a forest to regenerate. There is competition in the bush – big trees don’t allow the smaller trees to grow. I’ve seen that when you thin the big tree, you allow the smaller ones to increase in size.”
Leroy shares the process for timber harvesting in Namibia: “The harvesting is done selectively. It is not like the tree felling you see in plantation timbers, where all the trees are just cut down. If we go through an area where we’ve been harvesting, you won’t even notice that we were there. We only harvest species that regenerate, and obviously it’s important how you do the harvesting.”
Leroy works closely with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. He explains that they do inventories of the trees and decide which trees can be cut. “When we harvest a tree for its timber value, we do not uproot or kill the tree. Its root systems are left intact to allow it to regrow. In the past, unprocessed wood was taken out of the country, but now that we process locally we add more value, use less and waste less.”
Leroy’s timber processing plant is found in the tiny border town of Katwitwi in the Kavango West Region. “It is important for our country that we don’t have all the skills in urban areas only. I want to inspire other Namibians to join me in de-urbanising. But first, the community needs skills and opportunities in their regions. Currently, there are many issues in the rural areas, broken homes and this is mostly because of poverty.”
BUILDING CAPACITY UNDER THE TREES
Starting small, this business has grown from a raw material supplier to include a carpentry aspect. “I did that to be able to create capacity. I’ve since added my own machines, and you’ll find them in a very rural part of Namibia where the classroom is still found under a tree. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to make donations to that school and see the whole area grow.”
Dreaming big, Leroy hopes to offer an apprenticeship programme to train young people from his region. He is partnering with the National Training Authority to be able to do this. Growing his career in a field that was once dominated by negativity, was inspired. Today, there are great strides being made in the forestry sector in Namibia and the sustainable use of a resource, when done correctly, is a fundamental element in the conservation of that resource. Leroy adds that many stakeholders, such as the Hanns Seidel Foundation, are doing great work in creating dialogues around the country that have really opened people’s eyes.
A VISION FOR NAMIBIA’S TIMBER INDUSTRY
Leroy’s ultimate aspirations revolve around contributing to a flourishing Namibian timber industry that not only generates sustainable employment but also ensures long-term benefits for communities entrusted with managing this vital natural resource. He envisions making a tangible impact and is driven by the goal of fostering the growth of an industry that prioritises sustainability. Leroy’s overarching objective is to advocate for a robust legislative and regulatory framework that supports the development of a sustainable forestry and timber sector in Namibia.
This young man is showcasing how the importance of preserving our natural resources for future generations can present business opportunities. Through his endeavours with Miombo Forestry Products, Leroy exemplifies the potential for individuals to effect positive change by aligning their passions with the greater good.
Kirsty Watermeyer
