The unprecedented loss of biodiversity is threatening the economy and overall human wellbeing. Economic activities depend largely on biodiversity and the associated ecosystem services in many places, such as in Namibia, for example, where biodiversity is crucial for the economy and livelihoods. It is reported that 70 percent of the Namibian population depends on biodiversity and natural resources. Protecting and improving the sustainable use of biodiversity is, therefore, a priority. In this project, research and capacity building in the field of Biodiversity Economics in Namibia will be implemented. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the Technische Universität Dresden.
The goal of the project is to support research related to biodiversity economy approaches. The project will also contribute towards mainstreaming the sustainable use of biodiversity in Namibia and support selected communities in maximising livelihood opportunities from biodiversity. A rigorous biodiversity assessment (impact and dependencies) of business in selected sectors will be implemented to cover a range of important economically relevant sectors.
This project is funded by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
