The Southern Africa Regional Ramsar Initiative, launched across 12 SADC countries, aims to promote protection and sustainable use of wetlands while attracting financial and technical resources for the region. Namibian conservation experts welcomed the move, citing threats to wetlands like the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin from overfishing, pollution, illegal hunting, and sand mining.
The Southern Africa Regional Ramsar Initiative, launched across 12 SADC countries, aims to promote protection and sustainable use of wetlands while attracting financial and technical resources for the region. Namibian conservation experts welcomed the move, citing threats to wetlands like the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin from overfishing, pollution, illegal hunting, and sand mining.
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.
The Community Conservancy Fund of Namibia has raised US$63 million (just over N$1 billion) to support community conservation, with President Nandi-Ndaitwah reaffirming the critical importance of environmental protection for rural livelihoods and sustainability. The fund supports wildlife-based income initiatives and addresses human-wildlife conflict through measures such as ranger programs and predator-proof kraals.
Farms in Kunene Region's Kamanjab Constituency have sustained significant damage from wildlife, particularly elephants, which have destroyed water infrastructure, tanks, crops, and fencing. The Regional Councillor confirmed complaints from multiple farms and welcomed Ministry of Environment interventions to address elephant-related challenges in the region.
The Kunene River recorded a flow rate of 1,197.80 cubic metres per second on Tuesday morning, an increase from 1,058.80 m³/s a week earlier, though down from Monday's 1,386.10 m³/s. The Kavango and Zambezi rivers have seen slight declines, and the Hydrological Services of Namibia has issued a flood alert for the eastern Zambezi floodplains, urging communities to remain vigilant and activate flood preparedness measures.
The Kunene River at Ruacana recorded 1,386.10 m³/s on Monday, 20 April, declining slightly from 1,561.20 m³/s on Sunday but remaining significantly higher than the previous week. Heavy rainfall in southern Angola has prompted NamPower to open floodgates, and communities downstream are warned to remain vigilant for potential localised flooding.
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.
The Kunene River's flow rate jumped from 785.90 cubic metres per second on 13 April to 1,442.6 m³/s on 16 April, according to Namibia's Hydrological Services. Communities downstream of Ruacana are advised to avoid flooded areas and remain on high alert for potential localised flooding.
RuralRevive Namibia won gold for its regenerative tourism and desert-based economy initiative around Maltahöhe, while Elephant Human Relations Aid Namibia received silver for significantly reducing human-elephant conflict incidents in the region.