Namibia - Overview

Remark:

Please note that this country profile has been prepared by the Secretariat on the basis of information provided in the NBSAP and national reports, but has not been reviewed by the Party concerned.

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Located south of the Sahara Desert, Namibia is the most arid African country and the most vulnerable to degradation. In spite of its very dry climate, Namibia holds a remarkable variety of habitats and ecosystems ranging from deserts (with less than 10mm of rainfall per year) to subtropical wetlands and savannas (with over 600mm of rainfall per year)... More »

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The goal of this strategic plan is to protect ecosystems, biological diversity and ecological processes, through conservation and sustainable use, thereby supporting the livelihoods, self-reliance and quality of life of the Namibian peoples. The NBSAP comprises fifteen fundamental principles concerning issues such as: conservation and sustainable use; biodiversity valuation; sound ecosystem management; in-situ conservation and integrated management; sound environmental and developmental planning; traditional knowledge and fair sharing of benefits; objective decision-making; responsibilities of government and general population; effective and innovative partnerships; role of women; international cooperation; representative network of protected areas; and wise resource management in arid landscapes... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The Third National Report refers to many NBSAP objectives related to the 2010 target. For example, Namibia was committed to include 15% representation of all vegetation types and 30% of the Sperrgebiet and Namib Escarpment in its protected area network by 2006. Regarding the status of biodiversity, the country intends to establish Wildlife Management Strategies for several major species and areas, including the Black Rhino... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The Sperrgebiet site was proclaimed as a National Park in 2004. The Third National Report mentions goals relating to the protected areas issue. For example, Namibia previously decided to prepare goals and outline strategies for all 15 parks by 2001, and to double conservation areas of conservancies by 2005. However, the status of implementation of these targets is not specified... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Namibia’s Third National Report mentions existing programmes that relate to this issue, such as the Community Based Natural Resource Management programme that aims particularly at strengthening the capacity of indigenous and local communities. Other programmes of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and other Ministries target local communities as well, notably through the community-forestry programme and various agricultural projects... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr. Teofilus Nghitila	CBD Primary NFP, CHM NFP, SBSTTA NFP
Ms. Betty Kauna Schroder	ICNP ABS NFP
Dr. Eugene Marais	GTI NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Dr. Martha Kandawa-Schulz	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Mr. Elmo Thomas	BCH NFP