Also known as: Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Ministry responsible for environmental clearances, wildlife management, forestry, and natural resource protection in Namibia.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism allegedly rejected compensation applications from people with permanent disabilities from crocodile attacks
“The Namibian reported on Friday that 17 people were camping outside the game reserve, with community activists alleging that some people left with permanent disabilities after crocodile attacks had had their compensation applications rejected by the environment ministry.”
All People’s Party backs crocodile victims’ compensation protestThe Namibian
Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining continues across the country
“The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining continues to take place across the country, posing a danger to the environment, people and livestock.”
Illegal sand-mining still a headache for ministryThe Namibian
Ministry of Environment and Tourism issued a directive banning empty game-viewing vehicles from entering Etosha National Park
“The directive, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism on 2 July, has disrupted how local operators fetch tourists staying inside Etosha and has left businesses struggling to honour bookings made months in advance.”
Etosha ban puts jobs at riskThe Namibian
Ministry of Environment and Tourism provided preliminary data showing the extent of fire damage affecting 4,700 hectares
“City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya says preliminary data from the directorate of forestry under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism shows the extent of the damage.”
Ongos fire destroys 4 700 hectaresThe Namibian
A forester in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism says veld fires destroy grasslands and cause habitat destruction for wildlife
“A forester in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism at Eengombe growth point in the Uuvudhiya constituency of the Oshana region says veld fires not only destroy grasslands for livestock but, they also cause habitat destruction for micro-organisms, insects and small wildlife populations.”
Uuvudhiya veld fire causes widespread ecological damageThe Namibian
The ministry recruited locals to help fight the fire
“Hinanane said once the ministry was made aware of it, he and two other officials from the ministry went to nearby villages to recruit locals to help fight the fire.”
Boy’s snake hunt sparks 3 560ha veld fireThe Namibian
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has intensified efforts to curb illegal harvesting and trade of Namibia's lithops plants
“The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has intensified efforts to curb the illegal harvesting and trade of Namibia's iconic lithops plant, warning that the highly sought-after succulents are increasingly targeted by organised wildlife trafficking networks.”
Govt acts to stop illegal lithops traffickingNamibian Sun
Environment ministry officially launched UNIDO-GEF Namibia Child Project
“The environment ministry, in partnership with EIF Namibia, UNIDO and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), officially launched the UNIDO-GEF Namibia Child Project yesterday.”
Youth shape green economyThe Namibian
Environment ministry released a report showing fewer German tourists visited Namibia in 2025 compared to previous year
“This comes as a new report released by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday shows fewer German tourists visited Namibia in 2025 compared to the previous year, amid a general decline in the number of European visitors to the country.”
Visa regime change bites tourismThe Namibian
Ministry of Environment and Tourism euthanised the buffalo
“Chief veterinary officer Kenneth Shoombe says the buffalo was spotted at Mpora Village in the Mankumpi area of the Kavango West region on 5 June, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism euthanised the animal on 7 June.”
Buffalo FMD scare ends as Govt lifts livestock movement banAgriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani has appealed against the environmental commissioner's decision to grant an environmental clearance certificate to Namibian Marine Phosphate for the Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project, appealing against the decision in its entirety and all conditions in the certificate.
3 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Communities in Omusati region are improving land-use management through a UN-backed drylands sustainability project to address resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising agricultural demand. A meeting in Okahao brought together 27 people from three constituencies to develop local land-use plans and discuss restoring degraded land.
2 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The All People's Party backs survivors and families protesting outside Mahango Game Park in Kavango East, who are calling for compensation from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for injuries and deaths from human-wildlife conflict. APP president Ambrosius Kumbwa said the ministry should address grievances with transparency and accountability, and called for a government mechanism to compensate and support victims.
29 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Officials in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism have raised concerns about illegal harvesting of mopane trees for firewood in parts of the Oshana and Omusati regions, particularly in Uuvudhiya and Otamanzi constituencies, warning that the complete uprooting of live trees severely damages forest conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
24 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism says illegal sand and gravel mining persists across the country, posing dangers to the environment, people and livestock. The ministry notes that such commercial extraction requires an environmental impact assessment and clearance certificate, and that illegal sites are particularly prevalent in north-central regions.
20 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A Ministry of Environment and Tourism directive banning empty game-viewing vehicles from Etosha National Park has put over 100 workers employed by local tour operators at risk of job losses and caused losses of over N$1 million, with operators citing disrupted logistics for transporting tourists and cancelled international bookings.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A veld fire in the Ongos area has affected approximately 4,700 hectares of land, according to preliminary data from the directorate of forestry. City of Windhoek firefighters have resumed containment efforts after winds forced suspension of operations, with remaining activity limited to contained interior fires and monitoring ongoing in affected areas.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A forester from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism says the veld fire in Uuvudhiya constituency caused widespread ecological damage, destroying grasslands for livestock and habitats for micro-organisms, insects, and small wildlife, and damaging plant species including iitulu shrubs, acacia, and mopane that local communities and wildlife depend on for food and medicinal purposes.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Katima Mulilo Town Council has prohibited Zanami Investment from hosting a Yo Maps concert on 5 September, as it clashes with the ninth Zambezi Bream Festival (30 August–6 September). The council rejected a proposal to collaborate the events, citing that the bream festival is an officially gazetted government event that cannot run concurrently with commercial events.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia will send a delegation headed by Environment and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel to the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 17 to 28 August.
13 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Two Chinese citizens were found not guilty in the Windhoek Regional Court of charges related to 571 seal bull genitals found in their possession at Hosea Kutako International Airport in January last year. The magistrate determined the seal genitals were legally bought and had not been exported, as the accused's luggage was not booked onto a flight before they were arrested.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The environmental commissioner issued an environmental clearance certificate on 5 August for Knowledge Katti's Namibia Marine Phosphate's Sandpiper marine phosphate mining project offshore Namibia, valid until 5 August 2029. The decision has triggered opposition from the IPC and conservationists who have raised long-running environmental and industry concerns.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Constituency and traditional authority leaders in Aminuis, about 150km south of Gobabis, are lobbying government and private investors to develop the settlement's agricultural, salt harvesting, and tourism potential, citing underground water reserves and vast salt pans that could support green schemes and generate jobs.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A veld fire allegedly caused by a cattle herder hunting snakes in the Oponona farming area of Oshana region on 14 July destroyed 3 560 hectares of grazing land. The fire, which burned until the following day, caused extensive environmental damage, livestock feed loss, and threatened agricultural livelihoods.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's community seed banks will accept only traditional seeds to preserve indigenous crops and plants, according to the chief forester at the National Plant Genetic Resources Centre. Indigenous seeds are better suited to local conditions and resilient to climate challenges, while genetically modified seeds will be excluded because they deplete soil nutrients.
22 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A community seed bank planned for Uuvudhiya constituency in Oshana will primarily benefit farmers in the Kunene-Cuvelai landscape, helping preserve indigenous seeds adapted to local conditions after environmental challenges like drought, floods, and climate change have caused their disappearance.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has intensified efforts to curb illegal harvesting and trade of lithops, endemic desert succulents prized by collectors worldwide. Environment minister Indileni Daniel told parliament that Namibia has strengthened monitoring, law enforcement and international cooperation, including regular compliance inspections and border monitoring to prevent unlawful exports of the protected species.
12 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The environment ministry, in partnership with EIF Namibia, UNIDO and the Global Environment Facility, officially launched the UNIDO-GEF Namibia Child Project.
9 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Scientists are expanding research into the deaths of desert elephant calves in north-western Namibia, working with researchers to analyse genetic and field samples as well as stress levels in desert elephants. An experienced safari guide suggests increasing human activity and tourist presence around elephants may be contributing to stress, though the exact cause of calf mortality remains unknown.
8 July 2026 · The Namibian →
German tourist arrivals to Namibia in 2025 fell compared to the previous year, potentially due to a visa policy introduced last April that ended visa-free travel for European countries. The number of European visitors dropped from 266,000 in 2024 to 210,000 in 2025, though the Hospitality Association of Namibia notes the industry has not seen a similar decline in source markets.
28 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The government has scaled down its plans to build an Ondangwa referral hospital, with Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge announcing the project will instead become a 700-bed district hospital. The feasibility study and environmental assessments have been completed, with the AfDB providing financing in collaboration with the ministries of finance and health and social services.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Esegeel Kondombolo, a Windhoek resident, spent 22 years addicted to gambling, which cost him two jobs and damaged his family relationships before he received help from social workers at the Ministry of Health and Social Services. He now warns that gambling results in losses and can destroy trust within families.
20 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Directorate of Veterinary Services has lifted restrictions on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals in parts of Ohangwena and Kavango West regions after a buffalo spotted in June tested negative for foot and mouth disease and was euthanised.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia will not accede to the United Nations High Seas Treaty until it has the capacity to implement its provisions and fully benefit from marine biodiversity protections beyond national jurisdiction. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform says the country recognises the importance of ocean sustainability but wants to ensure it can meet treaty obligations before joining.
10 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Competition Commission has granted Ultimate Safaris a 90-day extension to respond to an investigation into an allegedly illegal agreement with three conservancies. The extension was granted under the Competition Act of 2003, though critics claim the NaCC is treating the company with "kid gloves" given the time it has been allowed to avoid complying with the commission's directive to scrap the exclusive agreements.
8 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Brown hyenas in Tsau //Khaeb National Park have remained stable since 1997 with an estimated 200 to 300 individuals in the park, benefiting from successful breeding and low human disturbance. The Brown Hyena Research Project, supported by Namdeb and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, studies the species' movements and warns that fences and busy roads could disrupt their long-distance coastal travels and threaten the population.
5 June 2026 · The Namibian →
A desert locust outbreak has been detected in parts of Erongo and Hardap, with swarms destroying grazing and vegetation across at least 15 farms covering 300–400 square kilometres. The Ministry of Agriculture says the locusts are in the flying stage, making control difficult, and has deployed vehicle-mounted sprayers to contain the outbreak.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →
The Mutjimagumwe Woodwork Cooperative's school furniture repair project in Kavango West is running short of materials and funds. The chairperson says the council's initial 180 pieces of timber have been used up, and the N$500 000 payment is nearly exhausted, while the scope has expanded from 4 000 chairs to 4 975 chairs and desks.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Sand mining at Onatshiku has uprooted palm trees and created a dangerous pit that poses risks to people and livestock. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism advised the Uukwambi Traditional Authority not to renew their environmental clearance certificate due to massive environmental damage, and rehabilitation has not yet begun despite promises last year.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A poaching suspect in custody in Omusati Region has been charged with perjury after admitting he lied when alleging he had been tortured by NDF, NamPol, and Environment Ministry officials on 28 April. The charges against the officials are likely to be dropped following the retraction.
15 May 2026 · Informanté →