Renthia Kaimbi
Namibia is moving forward with two separate conservation initiatives that could shape how natural landscapes are protected and managed, with the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) playing distinct roles in each process.
One initiative focuses on a community-driven conservation corridor linking the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Parks. The other initiative focusses on the proposed UNESCO Global Geopark surrounding the Brandberg area.
The community corridor initiative follows a contract signed by the NNF in October 2025 to support implementation of the Legacy Landscape Fund (LLF), which is managed by WWF Namibia.
The LLF committed funding of US$1 million per year for more than 50 years to support protected areas, specifically the Skeleton Coast and Etosha national parks.
Attention is now shifting to the large landscape between the two parks. The area, located in the Kunene region, includes more than 14 communal conservancies, such as Sorris Sorris, Doro !Nawas, Tsiseb and Torra.
In this region, the NNF is supporting discussions on whether conservancies want to explore a ‘People’s Park’ model. The approach is based on community ownership and joint management across connected conservancies.
“NNF’s role is to support interested conservancies in exploring this model,” said NNF communications officer Disney Andreas, referring to Ombondes Peoples Park in Kunene as an existing example.
The NNF is facilitating the process by supporting community meetings and covering costs related to logistics, transport and technical planning, including work on human-wildlife conflict management plans.
“We are just a facilitator,” Andreas told the Windhoek Observer, adding that the decision rests with the conservancies themselves, whether they choose to pursue the model individually or together.
At the same time, a separate national process is under way to establish a Gondwana Land Geopark around the Brandberg area.
Clemens Naomab, a senior development officer at NNF and a member of the national geopark task team, said on Thursday that the idea originated from a UNESCO recommendation, with the initial proposal developed by the German development agency GIZ.
To guide the process, members of the task team, including NNF representatives, undertook a study visit to Kenya, which is developing a similar geopark model.
“The last task team meeting sought to fast-track the process,” Naomab said, noting that consultations have already taken place with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
During these discussions, the task team considered possible implementing partners, and the NNF was proposed as a potential implementing agency for the Brandberg area.
The process now depends on feedback from UNESCO on proposals that have been submitted. The response will help determine the final structure of the geopark.
The NNF has clearly defined its role in the two initiatives. In the Kunene conservancies, it is acting only as a facilitator, supporting a community-led process. In the Brandberg geopark initiative, it is participating in a government-led discussion where its possible role as an implementing agency remains under consideration.
