Niël Terblanché
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT brought together biodiversity policymakers, scientists, and Indigenous community representatives from six countries to address the pressing challenges of invasive alien species (IAS) and sustainable wildlife use (SU).
The ministry is currently hosting the BES-Net Regional Trialogue for East and Southern Africa.
The environment ministry’s executive director, Teofilus Nghitila, during the official opening of the Trialogue in Windhoek, stressed the importance of proactive intervention in tackling invasive species.
“Invasive alien species are among the top drivers of biodiversity loss globally, with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems, economies, and human well-being. At the same time, ensuring the sustainable use of wildlife is vital for maintaining ecosystem health, supporting food security, and preserving cultural traditions and human livelihoods,” he said.
Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe are participating in the initiative, which seeks to translate the latest global scientific findings into regionally relevant actions.
According to Nghitila, the approach will integrate scientific expertise with Indigenous and local knowledge to strengthen biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
“Namibia, just like the rest of the world, knows that it is cost-effective to prevent the spread of alien invasive species and tackle the biodiversity crisis once they have become established. Namibia stands ready to share and learn from other multi-stakeholders comprising policymakers, scientists, and practitioners through this dialogue,” he said.
The UNDP Namibia’s Resident Representative, Alka Bhatia reiterated the need for an inclusive and people-centred approach to biodiversity conservation.
“Our commitment extends beyond policies and projects; it is about ensuring that people, particularly those whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources, are empowered to be custodians of their environment,” Bhatia said.
Alexandra Postrigan, Partnership Building and Facilitation Specialist at BES-Net stressed the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into conservation strategies.
“By bringing together policymakers, scientists, and Indigenous knowledge holders from across the region, we can co-create solutions that are grounded in both scientific research and time-tested local practices,” she said.
The Trialogue which will run until Thursday is expected to generate regionally tailored solutions, strengthening the implementation of global conservation frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The trialogue was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) and aims to find inclusive solutions to biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.
