Namibia seeks stronger marine protection to meet global conservation targets

WINDHOEK, June 8 — Namibia is seeking to expand protection of its marine ecosystems as it works toward meeting global biodiversity conservation targets, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani said Monday. Speaking at a ceremony marking World Ocean Day in the capital city of Windhoek, Zaamwani said Namibia has made strong progress in conserving terrestrial ecosystems but still lags behind in marine protection. Citing data from the 2026 United Nations Environment Program Target Tracker, Zaamwani said Namibia has conserved 39.92 percent of its terrestrial and inland water areas, compared with just 1.69 percent of its marine and coastal areas.