Daniel calls for reliable environmental reporting
Ester Hakaala Environment minister Indileni Daniel has warned that Namibia’s new environmental monitoring and reporting platform must remain operational after the project that helped establish it comes to an end. She called for permanent staffing, reliable data and sustainable funding. Daniel made the remarks at the University of Namibia (Unam) during the launch of the... The post Daniel calls for reliable environmental reporting appeared first on New Era .
Environment minister Indileni Daniel has warned that Namibia’s new environmental monitoring and reporting platform must remain operational after the project that helped establish it comes to an end.
She called for permanent staffing, reliable data and sustainable funding.
Daniel made the remarks at the University of Namibia (Unam) during the launch of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) Monitoring and Reporting Platform.
The platform consolidates environmental information to help government track progress on international environmental commitments and identify areas requiring urgent action.
However, Daniel said its launch should not be treated as the end of the work, particularly as the NILALEG Project, which supported the initiative, approaches its conclusion.
“However, the end of a project must not mean the end of the work. The ministry must provide clear leadership and oversight, while Unam and other participating institutions continue to support the unit through research, training and data. The Department of Environmental Affairs must serve as the custodian of the platform and ensure appropriate staffing, reliable data arrangements and sustainable financial support. The platform must remain active, current and useful,” Daniel said.
She added that the platform is intended to support national planning and reporting on biodiversity, climate change, land degradation and other environmental commitments.
It will also provide public access to environmental information and support institutions, including the Namibia Statistics Agency.
Daniel said maintaining the system would require government institutions and other stakeholders to share data on time and ensure environmental commitments are reflected in annual workplans and budgets. “I, therefore, call on government institutions, universities, development partners, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders to support this ministry-led initiative. Data must be shared on time, research must respond to national needs, and environmental commitments must be included in annual workplans and budgets,” she said.
The platform was developed through cooperation between the ministry and the Unam under the NILALEG project, with the university providing technical and academic support.
Daniel said the government’s ambition was to develop the MEA Monitoring Unit and platform into a recognised centre of excellence in Africa.
The NILALEG project has supported activities, including improved land management, community livelihoods, restoration, postgraduate research, national reporting and the establishment of three state forests.
Daniel said the platform was one of the project’s important legacies, but its long-term value would depend on whether government could sustain it after external project support ends, while calling on government institutions, universities, development partners, civil society and the private sector to support the ministry-led initiative.
-ehakaala@nepc.com.na
