WWF Namibia steps up climate action
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Namibia is advancing plans for a major climate resilience initiative aimed at helping vulnerable communities and landscapes adapt to the growing impacts of climate change.
The organisation recently brought together government institutions, universities, conservation organisations, financial partners, United Nations agencies and international WWF specialists to help shape the proposed Climate Resilient Enduring Earth (CREE) project.
The initiative is being developed for submission to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), with the goal of securing long-term investment for conservation and climate adaptation in Namibia.
WWF Namibia said that, as part of the process, stakeholders undertook consultations and field visits to King Nehale Conservancy, Ongula Village Homestead Lodge, George Mukoya Conservancy and Muduva Nyangana Conservancy.
The engagements provided an opportunity to hear directly from communities and gain a better understanding of how changing climatic conditions are affecting livelihoods, water availability, wildlife and natural ecosystems.
Communal conservancies, tourism enterprises and farming communities are increasingly facing pressure from more frequent droughts, unpredictable rainfall and rising temperatures. These changes are placing additional strain on the natural resources on which communities depend for income, food security and other livelihood needs.
The proposed CREE project seeks to address these challenges by supporting climate-smart approaches to wildlife management, agriculture, tourism, water management and land-use planning.
According to WWF Namibia, a key element of the initiative is ensuring that local knowledge and community priorities are incorporated into future interventions. Stakeholder engagement is therefore intended to help identify practical solutions that can strengthen resilience while supporting locally led conservation and climate adaptation.
WWF Namibia Country Director Dr Juliane Zeidler highlighted the importance of managing land, water and biodiversity in ways that strengthen resilience for both people and nature.
By bringing communities, conservation partners, government institutions and other stakeholders into the planning process, WWF Namibia hopes to establish a strong foundation for future climate investment.
The proposed project could ultimately contribute to stronger ecosystems, more resilient livelihoods and better-prepared communities as Namibia confronts an increasingly unpredictable climate.
