NAMIBIA PROTECTED LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AREA INITIATIVE (NAM-PLACE PROJECT) LAUNCH
The Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah inaugurated the NAM-PLACE project on the 15th November 2011. The event ran concurrently with the project inception workshop at Safari Hotel Conference Center in Windhoek.
NAM-PLACE is a five-year project funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to an amount of US$ 4.5 million and is aimed at the establishment of the landscape conservations areas necessary for the conservation of country’s biodiversity as well as the stimulation of sustainable social and economic development. The proposed landscapes will ensure that land use practices are of areas adjacent to existing protected areas are compatible with biodiversity conservation. The project is implemented by the MET in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the implementation agency. The occasion was attended by a group of about 100 stakeholders comprising of government officials; UNDP representatives, freehold farmers; conservancies and members of the traditional authorities and the media.
In her inaugural speech, the minister applauded the formulation and launch of the NAM-PLACE project concept stating that it is the step in the right direction and strengthens the Namibian government’ steady commitment to environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management. The minister further urged the project implementation team to take ownership and ensure that by the end of the five years the project leave tangible benefits required to benefit targeted communities. In this call, she emphasised the need for a responsive and effective fire management system referring to the need to combat the devastating effects of uncontrolled fires as those that occurred in Etosha and Namib-Naukluft parks during the course of 2011. The minister stressed that due to the impact of climate change, new proactive initiatives are needed and the project we are inaugurating today will provide a framework to explore such initiatives. As an affirmation to Namibia’s commitment to sustainable environmental management, the UNDP’s country Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Neil Boyer who gave remarks at the same occasion, affirmed that the country’s praised conservation efforts is owed to committed leadership which country and specifically the minister of MET strongly uphold.
After the official launch of the project, an inception workshop took place. The inception workshop aimed at introducing the project and project staff to stakeholders; reviewing of changes made to the project document; as well as presenting the project’s work plan for 2012. In conclusion, a number of targets were set. These include the finalization of the inception report and distribution to stakeholders, as well as the establishment of the various committees to ensure that expected outputs are met.