Namibia’s ecosystem mapping has identified more than 200 distinct ecosystem types across the country, reflecting its extraordinary ecological diversity.
This is according to the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Indileni Daniel.
She highlighted that protecting Namibia’s various ecosystems is essential, not only for biodiversity, but also for the livelihoods and cultural heritage they sustain. Daniel indicated that protected areas and communal conservancies together cover nearly half of Namibia’s land, ensuring that diversity is safeguarded.
At the same time, community-based conservation models and rural communities are empowered to take ownership of protecting ecosystems, generating sustainable income while conserving biodiversity and strengthening local governance.
The minister noted that every dollar the country invests in prevention saves many more in recovery.
Daniel also emphasised the importance of climate finance, saying Namibia has mobilised substantial resources from partners and is preparing major funding proposals targeting agriculture, water security, and clean energy.
“At the same time, we must expand private sector participation and innovative financing to meet the scale of the challenge,” she called.
