Africa-Press – Namibia. The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel has called on Namibians to take urgent action to heal degraded ecosystems and restore land productivity.
Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti stressed the need for a national shift in mindset – away from the short-term exploitation of natural resources towards sustainable investment in land.
He was speaking on behalf of the minister during the commemoration of the Desertification and Drought Combat World Day at Outapi.
“The theme for today is challenging us to change our mindset and shift from a short-term, extractive mindset – taking from the land until it depleted, to a long-term regenerative one – investing in the land for prosperity. A land, when cleaned and restored, can become a vibrant park, a hub for new green businesses or desirable real estate unlocking far greater and more sustainable opportunities for the entire community,” Daniel said.
She stressed the alarming rate at which Namibia and the global community are degrading land.
She noted that severe effects of drought and displacement are already evident in the Omusati and Kunene regions.
Daniel called for nationwide participation in reforestation, soil regeneration, wetland restoration, pollution clean-up and efforts to combat desertification.
She stated that any activity involving reforestation and afforestation, soil regeneration, habitat restoration, wetland and waterway restoration, combating desertification and pollution clean-up is a contribution in the right direction.
“I call us all to take necessary actions to heal degraded ecosystems and bring them back to health and productivity. Humanity is degrading land at an alarming rate and causing serious droughts. Droughts are forcing people from their homes and inflating food insecurity,” she said.
The minister stated that land degradation not only threatens food and water security but also undermines livelihoods and accelerates climate change.
In response, Namibia has made strong progress in environmental restoration and sustainable land management.
The country has completed its Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and identified seven critical hotspots for restoration interventions.
Speaking at the same event, the chairperson of the Olushandja Farmers Association Shetuuka Shetuuka called for bold action against drought and desertification.
He highlighted how the association is actively transforming adversity into opportunity through water conservation, sustainable farming and community action.
“We have adopted drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting to stretch every drop. Farmers are planting drought-resistant crops and vegetables like carrots, beetroots, sweet potatoes and peppers, and using organic fertilisers (green fields) to revive soils,” he said.
Shetuuka appealed to government bodies and private sector partners to invest in large-scale water infrastructure like the Olushandja Dam expansion and provide seeds and equipment to farmers.
Omusati governor Erginus Endjala stated that across Omusati, initiatives like tree planting, climate-smart farming and community education are already showing the way forward.
“Omusati is home to natural treasures like the Ruacana waterfalls, one of the most breathtaking sights in Namibia. Its endemic trees, such as Mopane trees and Baobab trees, give uniqueness to our region. Such places remind us of what we stand to lose if we do not act, but also of what we can protect and promote through sustainable land use,” he stated.
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