NILALEG Project

NAMIBIA INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE APPROACH FOR ENHANCING LIVELIHOODS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE TO ERADICATE POVERTY (NILALEG) PROJECT

REVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND MAXIMIZE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS BASED ON NATURE THROUGH AND INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE APPROACH

There is an increasing acceptance that sectoral approaches to sustainable land management are no longer sufficient to meet renowned challenges such as poverty eradication, biodiversity conservation, and food production. The pressing challenge of integrated landscape management is to link conservation and agricultural practices, institutions and policies with other landscape-scale activities. Integrated Landscape Approaches in Namibia are identified as key basic frameworks to reverse environmental degradation and enhance livelihoods through nature-based enterprises by balancing competing demands and integrating policies for multiple lands uses within a given area.

In Namibia, environmental degradation is a complex phenomenon and is not only about the land, but the people. The majority of the population is directly affected by the depletion of the natural resources due to the direct dependant (70% of the population) on natural resources for their livelihoods. This is aggravated by the erosion of the land, water and biological resources to sustain the ever-growing population.

WHAT DOES NILALEG PROJECT AIM TO ACHIEVE

The key development challenge to which this project responds to is the need for integrated management of Namibia’s rural landscapes, to reverse environmental degradation and maximize sustainable livelihoods based on nature. Without such an approach, the country’s densely settled northern regions will see increased poverty and inequality, with a continuous decline in forest cover, and attendant loss of biodiversity, soil fertility and carbon sequestration. Therefore, an effective multi-stakeholder approach to integrated landscape management is vital if Namibia is to meet its global environmental obligations and national development goals, addressing poverty and environmental degradation, and achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth in the long run.

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

To promote an integrated landscape management approach in key agricultural and forest landscapes, reducing poverty through sustainable nature-based livelihoods, protecting biodiversity and restoring forests as carbon sinks, and promoting Land Degradation Neutrality.

PROJECT COMPONENTS AND OUTPUTS

1. Strengthening institutional coordination and governance mechanisms for an integrated landscape management approach

1. Intra-governmental coordination improved in the areas of land degradation, climate change and biodiversity
2. National monitoring system for land degradation, climate change and biodiversity
3. Nationally tailored methodology for measuring Carbon stocks
4. In-service training of agriculture and forestry extension officials
5. Inspection and enforcement capacity to prevent poaching, illegal forest clearing, illegal mining and infrastructure development

2. Implementation of the integrated landscape management approach in target landscapes

1. Establishment and capacity development of multi-stakeholder coordination structures in five target landscapes of approx. 20,000 ha each
2. Demarcation of two regional forest reserves of 10,000 ha and establish infrastructure for sustainable management and restoration
3. Sustainable forest management plans for new Community Forests across 3,000 ha in target landscapes
4. Restoration of 10,000 hectares of forested land through piloting a public works programme for landscape restoration
5. Extension support to promote agroforestry and climate-smart agriculture, across 15,000 ha
6. Nature-based enterprise development (tourism, value addition, processing of natural products etc.)
7. Practical guidelines on poverty eradication   through sustainable enterprises

3. Sustainable financing for implementation and upscaling of the integrated landscape management approach
   1. Valuation of ecosystem services in each of the target landscapes
   2. Support to at least 40 CBOs in target landscapes to prepare proposals to access grants
   3. Access to information on investment opportunities and micro-credit business support improved
   4. Scale-up of SFM approach through an annual Landscape Management Dialogue
   5. Scale-up of a public works programme for landscape restoration
   6. Explore a community-based national insurance scheme (against climate change losses and  human- wildlife conflict

4. Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, gender and impact assessment

1. Partnering with tertiary and research institutions for longitudinal studies on project impact (beyond outcome level)
2. Implementing gender action plan and gender impact study
3. Knowledge sharing for replication of best practice locally, nationally and internationally
4. Public awareness, advocacy, communications and knowledge management for project
5. Project monitoring and evaluation and sustainability plan, for achievement of all project outcomes

5. NILALEG FOCAL LANDSCAPES