Also known as: MEFT · Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism — manages protected areas, wildlife, environmental licensing, and disaster response, currently addressing wildfire prevention, poaching trends, and probe into Namibia Wildlife Resorts.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
New Era
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism revealed plastic bag levy has generated nearly N$250 million over past few years
“The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism revealed that the plastic bag levy has generated nearly N$250 million over the past few years, with part of the revenue funding waste management, recycling and green economy projects across the country.”
Plastic levy generates N$250mNew Era
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has acknowledged concerns raised by affected communities
“The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has acknowledged the concerns raised by affected communities.”
Lions terrorise Kunene …farmers cry foul over payoutsInformanté
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said its staff have been fighting the fire since yesterday, with operations continuing until late last night
“The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said its staff have been fighting the fire since yesterday, with operations continuing until late last night.”
Firefighters battle spreading wildfire in Zambezi RegionInformanté
The ministry warned that the fire is spreading quickly due to strong winds and heavy fuel loads in the area
“The ministry warned that the fire is spreading quickly due to strong winds and heavy fuel loads in the area, creating an urgent need for additional support from regional stakeholders.”
Firefighters battle spreading wildfire in Zambezi RegionWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has Namibia's green hydrogen strategy anchored in country's development agenda including Vision 2030 and NDP6
“Sikongo Haihambo, Executive Director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and GEF Operational Focal Point, said Namibia's green hydrogen strategy is firmly anchored in the country's development agenda, including Vision 2030, the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the Green Industrialisation Blueprint and the Namibia Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Strategy.”
Green hydrogen drive puts women, youth at centreWindhoek Observer
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism released official figures showing 366 rhinos were poached in Namibia between 2020 and April 2026
“According to official figures released by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), 366 rhinos were poached in Namibia between 2020 and April 2026.”
Pupkewitz Toyota donates N$40,000 worth of equipment to Namibia’s rhino rangersInformanté
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has concluded a controlled burning exercise in Etosha National Park
“THE Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has concluded a controlled burning exercise in the Etosha National Park as part of measures to reduce the risk and impact of wildfires during the upcoming fire season.”
Etosha completes controlled burns ahead of wildfire seasonInformanté
The Ministry said completed early burns and firebreak preparations are expected to reduce intensity and spread of fires compared to last year
“However, the Ministry said the completed early burns and firebreak preparations are expected to reduce the intensity and spread of fires compared to last year.”
Etosha completes controlled burns ahead of wildfire seasonInformanté
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism partnered with Ministry of Home Affairs and Namibia Tourism Board on customer-service training
“She said that her ministry has partnered with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the Namibia Tourism Board on a nationwide customer-service training initiative.”
Service excellence is a “national asset” — Minister IipumbuNamibian Sun
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism recorded 3.2% decline in international tourist arrivals in 2025
“According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's 2025 Tourist Statistical Report, unveiled in Windhoek on Thursday, Namibia welcomed 1 217 108 tourists last year, down from 1 257 093 in 2024.”
Tourist arrivals drop by 3.2%Green Metals Refining Ltd received environmental clearance from the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism in October for its planned manganese refinery and sulphuric acid plant at Farm 58 in Walvis Bay. The approval clears the way for further project development toward a Final Investment Decision, though construction has not yet begun.
13 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Green Metals Refining Ltd received environmental clearance from the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism in October for its planned manganese refinery and sulphuric acid plant at Farm 58 in Walvis Bay. The approval clears the way for further project development toward a Final Investment Decision, though construction has not yet begun.
13 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to strengthen wildfire prevention and response strategies following a 2025 fire that damaged part of Etosha National Park. The ministry is undertaking measures including establishing firebreaks, positioning water tanker trucks, and intensifying public awareness campaigns on environmental protection.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Nakalega Youth Irrigation Project in Oshana region produces fruits and vegetables but faces difficulty finding buyers. The project, which employs seven young people permanently and covers 12 hectares, also contends with high fertiliser prices and rising pest-control chemical costs.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
A Gibeon Village Council councillor has called on the government to provide disaster funding and emergency equipment, warning that the village lacks resources to handle veld fires, floods, and disease outbreaks. He notes that ongoing foot-and-mouth disease restrictions could leave communal farmers without income, and that the finance minister has said she cannot commit to providing subsidies to affected farmers.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Capricorn Group employees volunteered through the Change Makers programme to maintain the Garden of Hope at Windhoek Mental Health Centre, a space designed to promote hope, growth, care and renewal for patients. The initiative, established in partnership with the Centre in 2025, was supported this year by the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism, which donated fruit trees to the garden.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is promoting a tree-planting culture across Namibia as a sustainable inheritance for future generations. This year's Arbour Day, observed on the second Friday of October, carries the theme 'Towards One Million Trees by 2030: Plant Today, Breathe Tomorrow.'
11 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says it has only closed illegal routes at Bwabwata Game Park, while approved roads remain open. Tour guides represented by a group called Concerned Local Guides have complained that closures of roads along the Kavango River, where most wildlife viewing occurs, have effectively closed the park for tourism.
10 October 2026 · The Namibian →
A Khomasdal family is operating Happy Hives, a beekeeping business run by Heinrich Schimming and family members that produces honey, bee pollen, bee bread, propolis, and beeswax products including candles, lip balm, and floor polish. The business also provides bee-removal services and sells mainly through WhatsApp and word of mouth.
9 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has launched an investigation into state-owned Namibia Wildlife Resorts over alleged financial mismanagement, poor governance and unfair labour practices, including examining why workers remain displaced 11 months after a fire destroyed their houses at Sesriem in the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
8 October 2026 · The Namibian →
About 45 agricultural extension and forestry officers started a six-day training programme on the farmers' field schools (FFS) concept as part of the Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Project, which plans to establish 220 field schools across three landscapes in northern Namibia, reaching about 7,200 people.
7 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Timoteus Mufeti, the environmental commissioner, says his office faces several challenges in enforcing the Environmental Management Act, including receiving EIA applications from unqualified applicants, a lack of expertise to screen them, insufficient training in hazardous waste management, and a need to revise the Act to address emerging environmental issues.
1 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia recorded 43 rhinos poached in 2025, down from 91 in 2024, the country's lowest figure in more than a decade, Environment minister Indileni Daniel said. However, 24 rhinos have already been poached in 2026, indicating the threat remains active.
1 October 2026 · New Era →
The Drylands Sustainable Landscapes Impact Project has identified Omiyongo village in Omusati as the location for a farmers field school to help farmers address environmental challenges. The school will serve farmers from Outapi, Onesi and Tsandi constituencies and include rehabilitation of an earth dam for water storage.
30 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has scheduled public consultations on proposed amendments to lotteries and gambling regulations in six regions from 5 to 14 October. Key amendments include standardised application and registration fees, a 5% monitoring fee on net monthly income, a 1% maintenance fee on gross income for a Central Electronic Monitoring System, and coordination with the Namibia Revenue Agency to address undeclared operators and winners.
29 September 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia aims to increase international tourist arrivals from 863,872 in 2023 to 1.8 million by 2030, and boost tourism's GDP contribution from N$14.3 billion in 2022 to N$18.5 billion by 2030, as designated a priority sector under the National Development Plan 6.
29 September 2026 · New Era →
Osino Gold Exploration and Mining has received environmental clearance to abstract groundwater from the Kranzberg Aquifer in Usakos for water supply at its Twin Hills Mine in the Erongo Region. The Environmental Clearance Certificate was granted on 3 September by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's directorate of environmental affairs.
23 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
An escalating lion population in the Zambezi region has resulted in 70 head of cattle being killed in three months, with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism attributing the killings to younger males driven from main prides into settlements and a shortage of natural prey.
22 September 2026 · The Namibian →
A black rhino attacked tourists' car at Etosha National Park on Saturday, causing vehicle damage but no injuries. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism urged visitors to exercise caution, seek guidance from registered tour operators, and familiarize themselves with wild animal behaviour.
20 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Jaco Muller, founder of the Rhino Momma Project, one of Namibia's largest privately managed white rhino conservation programmes, died in a gyrocopter accident while monitoring rhinos and potential wildfires near Outjo in the Kunene Region. The project has bred 197 rhinos since 2013.
19 September 2026 · Informanté →
Over 2,000 square kilometres of Etosha National Park have burnt as firefighting teams battle wildfires in the park; preliminary assessments as of Wednesday show the total burnt area is 2,587 square kilometres, with active fires remaining small but unpredictable winds continuing to pose risks.
17 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Wildfire flare-ups in Etosha National Park reignited after strong winds, with about 2,587 square kilometres burned as of Wednesday. Ministry staff, the Namibian Defense Force, and community members continue battling the active fires, which remain relatively small and manageable but pose a risk due to unpredictable wind speeds.
16 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Mines Minister Modestus Amutse told Parliament that 71 inactive mining licences face cancellation, while 91 are currently active and producing. Licence holders failing to comply with approved mining or exploration programmes may face difficulties with renewals unless they can demonstrate circumstances beyond their control caused the non-compliance.
16 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has extinguished three of four wildfires ignited by lightning last Wednesday in Etosha National Park, with the remaining fire still under control. More than 1.2 million hectares have been destroyed by wildfires across Namibia from about 1,300 reported cases since last year.
16 September 2026 · New Era →
Erongo Governor Nathalia /Goagoses has warned investors against exploiting divisions within indigenous communities to advance business interests, urging them to move beyond consultations and token donations to structure benefit-sharing initiatives around actual community needs.
15 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Firefighting efforts in Etosha National Park have successfully extinguished three of four wildfires sparked by lightning strikes on Wednesday, with the remaining fire under control. The fires affected areas around Halali, Kamaseb and Tsam, and no animal losses or injuries have been reported.
14 September 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says Namibia is still developing a national circular economy policy in its initial stage, with a consultant appointed to drive the process, though budgetary constraints have slowed progress. The policy aims to embed circularity across energy, waste, and industrial development sectors, with support from the Environmental Investment Fund and Finnish universities collaborating with Namibia University of Science and Technology.
13 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Conservationists and volunteers conducting the annual Walvis Bay Wetland Winter Bird Count in August recorded just over 87,000 birds, including 51,000 flamingos. The winter and summer counts, conducted annually via citizen science, provide long-term data on bird populations and the health of Walvis Bay Lagoon.
10 September 2026 · The Namibian →
National Planning Commission Director-General Dr Kaire Mbuende has called for a balance between environmental conservation and industrial development, arguing that conservation concerns should not become an absolute barrier to economic activity. Speaking at the African Green Industries Summit in Swakopmund, Mbuende said environmental impact must be seriously assessed but that Namibia should not be forced to choose between development and conservation.
10 September 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism conducted an eight-day inspection of the Naukluft hiking trail in August to assess infrastructure, including trail markers, shelters, toilets, benches, water availability, and safety chains on steep sections. The team found the seven shelters along the trail clean and in generally good condition, with recent roof repairs and durable bench replacements underway.
6 September 2026 · Informanté →
A veld fire in the Omaruru district burned more than 10,000 hectares of grazing and natural veld across at least six farms before being brought under control on Monday night. Farmer Markus Trede attributed the difficulty in containing the fire to poor preparedness and lack of coordination among farmers, including gaps in knowledge about roads, water points, and farm access routes.
6 September 2026 · The Namibian →