Namibia has taken a significant step forward in strengthening inclusive, outcome-driven conservation with the formal recognition of its first Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
These newly recognised conservation areas highlight the country’s commitment to protecting biodiversity beyond traditionally proclaimed protected areas.
According to a statement by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Namibia, OECMs are geographically defined spaces that are governed and managed in ways that achieve long-term conservation outcomes, even though they are not officially designated as national parks or reserves.
It said that the approach recognises that conservation success is not limited to state-owned land but can also thrive across communal, private and mixed-use landscapes. In doing so, OECMs complement Namibia’s existing network of national parks, communal conservancies and community forests.
The first three OECM sites formally recognised in Namibia are NamibRand Nature Reserve, ProNamib Nature Reserve and Canyon Nature Park. Together, these areas span approximately 318,480 hectares of land dedicated to long-term biodiversity conservation. Their combined footprint plays a critical role in improving landscape connectivity and safeguarding ecosystems across diverse land-use zones.
The recognition was officially marked during a Validation Workshop and Certification Ceremony held from 30 to 31 March 2026 at the Country Club in Windhoek. The event represented the culmination of an extensive consultative process aimed at validating Namibia’s national framework and guidelines for identifying OECMs.
Speaking at the ceremony, WWF Namibia Country Director, Dr Juliane Zeidler, praised the country’s long-standing leadership in conservation. She noted that Namibia has, over the past decades, successfully linked conservation efforts with tourism development, job creation, and economic growth at both local and national levels. According to Zeidler, the recognition of the first OECM sites marks an important step towards more people-centred, landscape-level conservation.
The workshop also served as a national platform for stakeholders to review and refine the OECM validation framework, assess potential sites against agreed criteria, and raise awareness about the role of OECMs in complementing existing conservation strategies.
Participants included representatives from the tourism ministry, the fisheries and marine resource ministry, WWF Namibia, the Namibia Nature Foundation, as well as conservation practitioners and land managers.
Tourism ministry executive director Sikongo Haihambo, who officiated the certification ceremony, commended Namibia’s progressive policy environment.
He emphasised that the country’s legislation enables conservation efforts to extend beyond state-owned protected areas, allowing communities, private landowners and institutions to act as custodians of natural resources.
Adding a technical perspective, Kenneth Uiseb, deputy director for wildlife monitoring and research at the tourism ministry, explained that the recognised sites directly contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework Target 3—widely known as the “30 by 30” goal—which aims to conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and sea areas by 2030. He highlighted that these sites demonstrate how well-managed landscapes can deliver measurable and sustained conservation outcomes.
Representing the recognised sites, NamibRand Nature Reserve CEO Nils Odendaal welcomed the milestone, describing it as a validation of years of dedication by land managers, conservation partners and local communities. He stressed that the recognition underscores the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility in protecting Namibia’s biodiversity.
The certification of Namibia’s first OECM sites reinforces the importance of diverse conservation models in achieving national biodiversity targets. It also contributes to ecosystem protection, climate resilience and socio-economic development.
With this milestone achieved, Namibia continues to position itself as a global leader in innovative and inclusive conservation. Authorities are now encouraging landholders, conservancies and institutions managing land for conservation purposes to engage with the OECM framework and apply for future recognition.
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