Briefing Paper

Community Forests in Namibia: Sustainable Local-Level Forest Management

“Community forests in Namibia are central to promoting sustainable and participatory forest governance and enhancing livelihoods in communal land areas. Significant support from the government and the donor community has helped to establish community forests and
promote more sustainable harvesting practices. However, community forests still face a number of challenges, and it is particularly important that sustainable funding models be developed that are less dependent on donors. Stronger partnerships between community forests and conservancies appear to be one way in which their viability may be enhanced.”