For generations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities have safeguarded knowledge and practices that have sustained Namibia’s biodiversity. Today, that knowledge is gaining national recognition as a vital resource for biodiversity and climate decision-making with the launch of the country’s first National Outlook on Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity (Namibia National ILK Outlook).
Launched on 9 July 2026 at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) in Windhoek. The publication provides a national framework for documenting, safeguarding and applying Indigenous and local knowledge to strengthen biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Mr. Sikongo Haihambo, said that Indigenous and local knowledge represents a valuable resource built over generations through communities’ relationship with the environment. He noted that this knowledge provides important insights for environmental stewardship and sustainable development in Namibia.
Mr. Haihambo also emphasised that Indigenous and local knowledge should be recognized as a valuable source of evidence and experience rather than being reduced to folklore or oral traditions passed down through generations. He noted that these knowledge systems, refined over centuries of interaction with the natural environment, offer practical solutions for sustainable resource management, climate adaptation, and maintaining harmonious relationship between people and nature.
When the Ministry sets sustainable harvesting quotas for wildlife, we do not rely solely on computer models. We rely on the observations of community trackers and elders who understand animal migration patterns and seasonal changes better than any textbook, he said.
Mr. Sikongo HaihamboExecutive Director, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT)
Building on Mr. Haihambo’s remarks, the National Programme Officer for Sciences at UNESCO, Ms. Kombada Mhopjeni, representing the UNESCO Head of Office and Representative to Namibia, Ms. Eunice Smith, highlighted the importance of integrating Indigenous and local knowledge into biodiversity governance frameworks. She noted that these knowledge systems provide valuable perspectives for addressing today’s environmental challenges.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/namibia-launches-first-national-outlook-indigenous-and-local-knowledge-biodiversity?hub=701
