Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism

WATCH: The Ministry will host an informative Webinar on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 15h00. Follow the webinar on https://meet.google.com/enp-ssdr-hch as our experts unpack various environmental issues ahead of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought set to take place on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, at Gobabis.

JOIN US: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism would like to formally invite residents of Gobabis and surrounding areas to attend the commemoration of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

Taking place on Wednesday the 17th of June 2026, at the Women Centre Hall in Gobabis the event will be held under the theme: ”Rangelands: Recognise, Respect, Restore”.

The keynote address will be delivered by Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Hon. Indileni Daniel. Members of the public, stakeholders and community leaders are encouraged to attend this national event.

MEETING: Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Hon. Indileni Daniel, represented Namibia at the UN Tourism Executive Council Meeting in Spain, where Member States deliberated on the future of global tourism under the leadership of the newly elected Secretary-General.

During the meeting, Hon. Daniel reaffirmed Namibia’s support for sustainable and inclusive tourism, highlighting the importance of strong institutions, partnerships, skills development, and community empowerment. She also showcased Namibia’s Community-Based Natural Resource Management programme as a model for balancing conservation and socio-economic development.

“Namibia remains committed to working with fellow Member States to advance a tourism sector that is sustainable, resilient and benefits all,” she said.

The 126th session of the UN Tourism Executive Council took place from 10 to 11 June in Toledo, Spain.

ENVIRONMENT: The Ministry visited Epako Secondary School and Khoandawes Primary school in Omaheke Region on Wednesday to provide environmental education to learners as part of the School Environmental Clubs initiative.

The visits focused on promoting safe human-wildlife coexistence and ecosystem conservation, while highlighting the importance of reporting wildlife encounters to Ministry officials and Law enforcement. Learners also gained insight into the importance of forestry conservation and explored career opportunities within the sector.

The school environmental clubs programme utilises schools as Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) platforms to advance Environmental education in Namibia. Following a successful rollout in the Khomas Region, the programme is being rolled out in Omaheke Region and set to expand to other regions in the coming months.

DON’T SUFFER IN SILENCE: Minister Indileni Daniel on Friday encouraged Ministry staff members to speak to someone when they encounter problems, saying they should support one another when going through challenges and avoid suffering in silence.

She said this during the official closing of the Ministry’s 2026 sports week at Rietfontein. “Behind every uniform, every title and every responsibility, is a person who may sometimes face pressure,” she said, noting that such pressure could stem from work demands, financial challenges, family responsibilities, personal struggles or other life difficulties.

She said the week was not only about physical fitness but also about refreshing minds, promoting good mental health and strengthening the bonds that make staff members one MEFT family. The sports week ran from 1-5 June 2026 and included various sport activities and team-building sessions to promote wellness among the staff members.