Also known as: MEFT · Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
Namibian government agency that sets hunting regulations, oversees national parks, manages wildlife conservation, and regulates tourism access to protected areas.
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May 2026
Informanté
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismparticipated ininaugural BRAN Annual General Meeting in May 2026
Source
“The inaugural BRAN Annual General Meeting was held in May 2026, bringing together representatives from communal and freehold custodians, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Save the Rhino Trust, WWF Namibia, and the Namibia Nature Foundation.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismannounceda funding agreement worth over N$1 billion to support conservation efforts
Source
“This was announced by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, which revealed that the agreement will be signed under the banner of the Namibia for Life initiative.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismreportedeight rhino poaching incidents during first four months of 2026
Source
“NAMIBIA has recorded eight rhino poaching incidents during the first four months of 2026, with seven rhinos killed in Etosha National Park and another poached on a private farm, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismrevealed147 rhinos were immobilised and dehorned during 2025
Source
“As part of efforts to protect rhino populations, the ministry revealed that 147 rhinos were immobilised and dehorned during 2025 as part of a broader strategy aimed at reducing poaching risks and discouraging illegal wildlife trade.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismannounced2026 hunting season for game animals and game birds in Namibia
Source
“The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced the 2026 hunting season for game animals and game birds in Namibia, with some hunting activities allowed until the end of August.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismconfirmed thatDeadvlei is open to self-driving visitors in 4×4 vehicles
Source
“THE Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism confirmed that Deadvlei is open to self-driving visitors in 4×4 vehicles, following confusion at Sossusvlei after new access regulations were introduced.”
Ministrysaidinitial communication issues have been addressed
Source
“The ministry said the situation is being monitored and that initial communication issues have been addressed, although industry players continue to call for clearer guidance and possible adjustments to ensure smoother operations at one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismarrested jointlypoaching suspect in Orotjize village
Source
“The suspect was arrested by a joint team of NDF, NamPol, and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism officials in Orotjize village in the Ruacana policing area, following a poaching incident in the Etosha National Park.”
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourismintroducedthe joint venture tourism model about 30 years ago
Source
“a government-designed initiative introduced about 30 years ago through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to enable communities in remote areas to participate in and benefit from tourism.”
Namibia has launched the Black Rhino Association of Namibia (BRAN), a national coordination platform to strengthen collaboration, data sharing, and conservation efforts across the country's black rhino custodianship network, building on decades of conservation success through translocations, protected areas, and community-based approaches.
Why it matters
The launch of the Black Rhino Association strengthens Namibia's internationally recognized conservation coordination and builds on decades of wildlife custodianship success.
Namibia has launched the Black Rhino Association of Namibia (BRAN), a national coordination platform to strengthen collaboration, data sharing, and conservation efforts across the country's black rhino custodianship network, building on decades of conservation success through translocations, protected areas, and community-based approaches.
Namibia's government and the World Wildlife Fund will sign a funding agreement worth over N$1 billion to support long-term conservation efforts under the Namibia for Life initiative, using the Project Finance for Permanence model. The agreement will be signed on 20 May 2026 at Droombos, with attendance from the Prime Minister, Environment Minister, community conservancy leaders, civil society, donors, and the private sector.
Namibia's Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel told Africa's Travel Indaba 2026 in Durban that the country's tourism contribution is rooted in sustainability, policy alignment, innovation and market positioning, and called for African nations to work together to strengthen storytelling around the continent's tourism offerings.
Namibia has recorded eight rhino poaching incidents during the first four months of 2026, with seven rhinos killed in Etosha National Park and one poached on a private farm, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. The ministry has allocated more than N$350 million in the current financial year to strengthen conservation efforts and combat wildlife crime.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has set the 2026 hunting season for game animals and birds, with some activities allowed until the end of August. Hunting periods vary by farm type—from 1 May to 31 August on game-proof fenced farms and conservancies, and from 1 June to 31 July on adequately fenced farms—with species-specific and daily limits; hunting generates about N$400 million annually for Namibia.
More than 600 ovaHimba and ovaTjimba community members gathered in April 2026 to voice concerns about the planned 840 MW Baynes Hydropower Dam, citing inadequate consultation on a project that could affect their land, livelihoods, and access to water from the Kunene River. The site visit, led by Namibia's Ombudsman and facilitated by International Rivers, followed a formal complaint filed in April 2024 by traditional leaders about their exclusion from the project's consultation process.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism confirmed that Deadvlei is open to self-driving visitors in 4×4 vehicles and those using a designated shuttle service, while buses and trucks are prohibited. The new regulations, which take immediate effect, were introduced to manage visitor numbers and protect the environment, though tour operators reported delays and unclear instructions during implementation.
The Namibian Police in Omusati are investigating law enforcement officers for allegedly abusing a poaching suspect during questioning following an operation in Etosha National Park. The suspect was reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse by a joint team of NDF, NamPol, and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism officials, resulting in serious injuries, and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga has pledged to address landfill fires that have blanketed parts of the town in smoke, citing public health and air quality concerns. He attributed the fires to unauthorised activity and tyre burning, announced an immediate ban on tyre dumping, and said the municipality is working to transfer land within Dorob National Park to improve site management.
The Hospitality Association of Namibia has warned that the Competition Commission's questioning of exclusivity clauses in the country's joint-venture tourism model could undermine investment, conservation, and rural livelihoods. The association argues that exclusivity is essential to securing long-term private-sector funding for over 50 community-based tourism lodges and campsites operating under the framework.
Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has opposed the government's decision to restrict access to Deadvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, saying the closure of Sossusvlei for self-drive visitors and requirement to use a single concessionaire robs Namibians of their right to free access. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced last week that only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia and registered tour guides employed by lodges—will be authorised to provide shuttle services to Deadvlei effective 1 May 2026, with self-driving beyond the 2×4 parking area no longer permitted for tourists.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced that effective 1 May 2026, self-driving access to Deadvlei from the Sossusvlei 2×4 parking area will be restricted; only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia (trading as About Adelt Sossusvlei Management) and registered lodge tour guides—will be permitted to provide shuttle services.
Namibia's Cabinet has withdrawn the Okoutjete area in Kunene region from prospecting and mining activities and directed police to patrol and monitor the site to deter illegal mining. The decision reserves the Okoutjete gold occurrence from mining operations under the Minerals Act, subject to consultation with the Environment Ministry.
Frederick Moses Jacobs has established a fruit garden at Farm Constancia Opstal near Keetmanshoop, growing guava, mango and lemon trees on land his late father once worked. Despite challenges including bird damage and the harsh climate, the trees are bearing fruit, and Jacobs hopes to eventually expand into commercial production.
Rising water levels in the Zambezi River during March displaced residents, caused loss of income, and isolated communities from schools and healthcare. The flooding has also intensified human-wildlife conflict as animals compete for reduced available land, with elephants damaging crop fields in some areas.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has handed over newly built and renovated infrastructure worth N$166 million across Etosha, Hardap and Bwabwata national parks, co-funded by Namibia and Germany. The upgrades include improved entrance gates, comfort stops, duty stations, and anti-poaching infrastructure, aimed at strengthening conservation and enhancing visitor experience.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has inaugurated newly constructed and renovated infrastructure across Etosha, Hardap, and Bwabwata National Parks, valued at N$166 million and co-funded by Germany's development bank. The upgrades include enhanced facilities, staff stations, and utilities designed to strengthen wildlife protection and improve visitor experiences.
The Minister of Environment has inaugurated a Solid Waste Management Facility at Etosha National Park, emphasizing the need for environmental education alongside infrastructure to improve waste management practices. The facility, funded by the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, addresses poor waste management at wildlife resorts and will be operated by Rent-A-Drum.
The Johanna Jacobs Vocational Training Centre at Gibeon is proposing a biodiversity and restoration programme to remove invasive prosopis (makarakasha) trees that consume large quantities of water and damage infrastructure. The centre plans to harvest timber for productive use and introduce fish farming and superfruit orchards to transform the area into an agricultural hub.
Recent flash floods in Sibbinda, Zambezi have forced hippos, elephants, and lions to roam through villages searching for dry ground and food, endangering residents, destroying crops, and killing livestock. Community members are calling for stronger wildlife management and a review of crop damage compensation policies.
Namibia's environment and tourism ministry will inaugurate new light infrastructure, a solid waste management facility, and Wildlife Protection Service duty stations at Etosha National Park on 28 March. The improvements aim to strengthen ranger patrols against poaching, improve wildlife monitoring, and manage visitor waste to protect animals and the park's natural environment.
Tourism stakeholders in Erongo have called for improved inter-ministerial coordination in tourism concessions and stronger policy structures as the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism reviews the National Tourism Policy. The revised policy aims to reflect emerging global trends and local realities, with emphasis on sustainability, digitalisation, and improved data management.
Communal conservancies earned over N$292.5 million from trophy hunting between 2013 and 2024, with the Environment Minister confirming that selective hunting removes less than 1% of annual wildlife population and contributes to conservation funding, habitat management and community development.
Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel met with traditional authorities in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions to discuss community-led conservation, governance in conservancies, and wildlife management. Daniel reaffirmed government commitment to working with traditional leaders on sustainable biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing, and received a submission from the Hambukushu Traditional Authority regarding Bwabwata National Park management.
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) and Hulina Offshore Energy have partnered to launch a two-year national awareness campaign addressing electronic waste and plastic pollution, combining public education, community collection drives, and policy development to promote responsible disposal practices aligned with Namibia's Extended Producer Responsibility framework.
A light aircraft crashed near the Gobabeb Research Centre on Wednesday evening, killing researcher Alan Wilson and pilot Neil Thomas Oakman. The two had taken off to search for animal collars in the dunes as part of oryx research in the Namib.
The Namibian government has donated agricultural machinery and 200 mango trees to the Namibian Correctional Service in Katima Mulilo to develop a 1,000-hectare farm. The project aims to enhance food security, rehabilitate offenders through agricultural training, and mitigate climate change while reducing dependency on rainwater through irrigation.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has outlined an urgent need for comprehensive reforms to regulate Namibia's gambling sector, citing weak oversight that costs government revenue and exposes citizens to social harm. The minister called for a National Gambling Policy that prioritises player protection, skills development, and job creation, while confronting risks of addiction, and a gambling consultant warned that unlicensed online operators are extracting substantial revenue without paying taxes.
The Namibian Tourism Board used banners depicting a Thompson's Gazelle (which does not occur in Namibia) and an AI-generated elephant at international tourism fairs. The opinion piece awards the NTB, NIPDB, and South African Airways "Mamparra of the Year" for the embarrassing error.