Namibia's network of community forests continues to play a vital role in protecting natural resources while supporting rural livelihoods, with the country recording 47 gazetted community forests covering more than 93 400 km² by the end of 2023.
According to The State of Community Conservation in Namibia Annual Report 2023, community forests are becoming increasingly important in balancing conservation with economic development, particularly in the country's northern regions where woodlands and bush dominate the landscape.
The report said that unlike communal conservancies, which focus on sustainable wildlife management, community forests give local communities rights over timber and non-timber forest resources.
They operate under similar governance structures to conservancies and are often managed alongside them to maximise resources and strengthen community-led conservation, it said.
The report highlights that Namibia's forests provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including carbon storage, air filtration, soil stabilisation, biodiversity conservation and the protection of water resources.
They also supply fuel, food, shelter and income-generating opportunities that contribute significantly to rural economies.
According to the report, community forests further promote skills development, strengthen local governance and encourage greater participation of women in decision-making and leadership. Revenue generated from forest resources is often invested in social welfare initiatives and community infrastructure, helping reduce poverty in rural areas.
Of the country's 93 400 square kilometres of community forests, approximately 19 600 square kilometres fall outside registered conservancy areas.
The report explained that before a community forest can be established, communities must meet requirements set by the environment and tourism ministry.
It said that forest inventories are conducted jointly by the Directorate of Forestry and community members to determine available plant resources and establish sustainable harvesting levels.
These assessments form the basis of Integrated Forest Management Plans, which guide resource management, regulate harvesting activities and oversee grazing, particularly during periods of drought when forest grazing becomes increasingly important.
However, the report said that community forests have had to adapt following restrictions on hardwood harvesting introduced by the ministry in 2018 to combat illegal logging. Timber extraction had historically been the main source of income for many community forests, but reduced harvesting opportunities have prompted a shift towards alternative forest-based enterprises.
It said that government and development partners are now promoting the sustainable use of non-timber forest products, including marula, ximenia, mopane, mangetti and commiphora. While accessing international markets for oils and other products derived from these species remains challenging, ongoing efforts are focused on increasing local value addition.
Devil's claw remains one of the country's most valuable indigenous natural products, generating substantial annual income for community forests through exports.
The report also highlights the proclamation of the Zambezi State Forest Reserve in May 2023 as a significant milestone for forest conservation. The reserve expands protected forest areas in the Zambezi Region and is strategically located within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Four community forests share boundaries with the newly established reserve and are expected to benefit from grazing and harvesting rights as management plans are developed.
The report said that the reserve will strengthen ecological connectivity by linking conservancies, community forests and wildlife corridors, reinforcing Namibia's broader landscape conservation efforts while creating new opportunities for communities that depend on forest resources.
