Niël Terblanché
Namibians were to embrace a long-term, regenerative approach to land use at the commemoration of Desertification and Drought Day, held in Outapi on Tuesday.
Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti addressed attendees at the ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel.
“This year’s theme, ‘Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities’, is both a statement of fact and a call to action,” said Mufeti.
He described land as more than just a resource, calling it the bedrock of a thriving society.
“A healthy, functional ecosystem is not a luxury, but the fundamental foundation of a thriving society,” he said.
Mufeti stated that Namibia is committed to achieving its land degradation neutrality (LDN) targets.
These include plans to reforest 1,380 hectares, improve forest and cropland productivity, reduce bush encroachment across 1.9 million hectares, and maintain soil carbon levels well beyond 2040.
He said these efforts are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 15.3 and are part of a broader strategy to improve livelihoods while preserving biodiversity.
While discussing the cost of inaction, he warned that humanity continues to degrade land at an alarming rate.
“Droughts are forcing people from their homes and inflating food insecurity,” he said, citing the Omusati and Kunene regions as examples.
He added that land degradation can be reversed, transforming barren areas into productive spaces that benefit communities through agriculture, tourism, and water security.
Namibia’s decision to join the Great Green Wall Initiative and the African Forest Landscape Restoration programme under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was described as an opportunity to mobilise new funding and implement restoration projects.
“Some of these hectares are in Namibia,” he said, referring to SADC’s regional pledge to restore 105 million hectares by 2030.
“This initiative will offer Namibia opportunities to implement projects that lead to improved land use, sustainable agroforestry, and the recovery of wildlife.”
Mufeti also called for deeper policy integration and financing.
“We need to unlock new sources of finance, create decent land-based jobs, and fast-track innovations while making the most of traditional knowledge,” he said.
He stressed that investment from both the government and the private sector would be necessary to meet Namibia’s long-term environmental goals.
Mufeti appealed to all Namibians to shift away from unsustainable land-use practices.
“We can’t continue to do business and behave as usual,” he said. “We will perish if we continue as usual. We need to change some of our practices, smart agriculture, water harvesting, and new crops,” he said.
He pledged the ministry’s devotion to continue addressing drought and land degradation through practical interventions and awareness-building.
