A veld fire allegedly caused by a cattle herder in the Oponona farming area in the Uuvudhiya constituency of the Oshana region two weeks ago destroyed 3 560 hectares of grazing land. Akwilinus Hinanane, who works for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at the Eengombe growth point, yesterday said the fire started on 14 July. He said veld fires also cause soil degradation because high heat destroys organic matter, leaving soil vulnerable to wind and rain erosion. It is alleged that the fire was caused by a 14-year-old Angolan cattle herder in the area. Hinanane said the cattle herder claimed to have seen a snake hiding in the rat holes at the farm.