Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Namibia

The report provides a detailed inventory of 11 nature-based solutions (NbS) projects in Namibia, focusing on ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to combat drought, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. It highlights the central role of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and the integration of traditional knowledge with modern conservation. Key interventions include agroforestry, sustainable rangeland management, and the development of biodiversity-based livelihoods such as beekeeping and eco-tourism. The document details project locations across nine regions, their intended beneficiaries, and the specific climate and biodiversity risks they address, serving as a resource for government officials and practitioners to identify synergies and gaps in NbS implementation.

• Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is a fundamental element of NbS in Namibia, enabling local communities to manage natural resources sustainably by combining traditional practices with modern conservation.
• Namibia is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its arid climate and dependence on natural resources, with 83% of rainfall lost to direct evaporation and 14% to evapotranspiration.
• The inventory identifies 11 NbS for adaptation projects distributed across nine regions, with the highest concentration of projects located in the Zambezi region.
• NbS projects in Namibia frequently integrate biodiversity conservation with climate adaptation, often focusing on multifunctional goals such as dryland restoration, sustainable agriculture, and livelihood diversification.
• Specific NbS interventions across the documented projects include the use of assisted natural regeneration for land restoration, the planting of agroforestry trees to improve soil and water infiltration, and the implementation of human-wildlife coexistence measures using bees and chili plants as deterrents against elephants.
• The Namibian Coast Conservation and Management Project (NACOMA) expanded protected coastal ecosystems by supporting the proclamation of Dorob National Park, which added over 1.6 million hectares of protected area.

APA

Sekirime, S., Mwangilwa, E., & Abowe, D. (2026). Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Namibia. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-namibia.pdf

Chicago

Sekirime, Susan, Enock Mwangilwa, and Daniel Abowe. Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Namibia. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2026. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-namibia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sekirime |first1=Susan |last2=Mwangilwa |first2=Enock |last3=Abowe |first3=Daniel |title=Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Namibia |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2026 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-namibia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sekirime2026naturebased, author = {Sekirime, Susan and Mwangilwa, Enock and Abowe, Daniel}, title = {{Nature-Based Solutions Inventory for Namibia}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2026-06/nature-based-solutions-inventory-namibia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }