Project description

Title: Biodiversity and sustainable land management
Commissioned by: Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Country: Namibia
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET)
Overall term: August 2004 to June 2011

Context

Namibia’s rural population secures its livelihood, to a large extent, through the use of natural resources whose sustainable management therefore is of crucial importance for the country’s economic and ecological stability. However, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), being responsible for the sector, has not been able yet to create adequate framework conditions and laws. Neither the Ministry nor other relevant institutions do have the required capacities.

Objective

The aim of the project is to strengthen MET’s technical and management capacities and to ensure the promotion of sustainable management of natural resources. Framework conditions have to be improved and laws, strategies and guidelines implemented, promoting a balanced relationship between long-term resource utilization and the required protection of resources. Increased income and improved living conditions have to be guaranteed for the rural population, maintaining their resource basis at the same time.

Approach

The core function of the project is to promote MET’s technical and management capacities and to improve all political and legal framework conditions. Measures to develop human resource capacities in the Ministry and other participating partner organizations are carried out. Co-ordination and co-operation processes between State expert services and all involved social groups are improved. New approaches to solutions for sustainable land management and resource use are developed jointly in selected areas of Namibia.

In order to promote alternative income generation opportunities, suitable natural products are developed until they reach production and market maturity and until MET’s role is strengthened in the sectors “bio-trade” and “bio-prospecting”.

The project builds on previous experience based on the National Programme to Combat Desertification (NAPCOD) and the National Biodiversity Programme (NBP). Both projects were carried out with German support.

Further information

• Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET), Namibia
  www.met.gov.na