Conference spotlights gaps in landscape management

A national conference took place in Windhoek this week to deliberate on key themes and to identify knowledge and research gaps that exist in landscape management.The environment ministry is implementing the Namibia Integrated Landscape Approach for Enhancing Livelihoods and Environmental Governance to Eradicate Poverty (NILALEG) Project.This is being done with funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Namibia country office.The project aims to promote an integrated landscape management approach in key agriculture and forest landscapes, reduce poverty through nature-based livelihoods, protect and restore forests as carbon sinks and promote land degradation neutrality.The ministry, through the NILALEG project and in partnership with the International University of Management (IUM), hosted the two-day national conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, which was officially opened by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta.The conference sought to provide a vital platform for relevant stakeholders, researchers, practitioners and decision-makers.Future approachesThe outcome of the conference proceedings will help inform decision-makers and donors on available opportunities existing within landscapes, which will help to fast-track the mobilisation of resources for the implementation of future landscape approach initiatives and, lastly, create awareness on the importance of sustainable land management practices.The conference hosted participants from government, research and civil society partners involved in monitoring and reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.Namibian environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti said the conference also aimed to create awareness, set priorities, and identify opportunities for sustainable landscape development in the future.Professor Osmund Mwandemele, vice chancellor of IUM, said the integrated land management approach is a strategy to harmoniously coexist with nature.“Our planet Earth is declining due to climate change and deforestation, among other factors.”

Conference spotlights gaps in landscape management

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Conference spotlights gaps in landscape management

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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