University of Potsdam intensifies cooperation with Namibia for biodiversity protection

University of Potsdam intensifies cooperation with Namibia for biodiversity protection

On April 16, 2025, the University of Potsdam further strengthened its cooperation with Namibia. The university welcomed the Namibian ambassador Martin Andjeba at a meeting. The president of the university, Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph. D., as well as representatives from biology, the botanical garden, computer science and doctoral students took part in the meeting. The aim was to further expand relationships with Namibian universities, in particular the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

During the conversation, numerous topics of great interest were raised. These include, among other things, the protection of endangered plants, the optimization of pastures, wildlife management strategies and wildlife health. Climate-adapted water management and innovative approaches such as drone mapping for informal settlements were also discussed. The university also plans to intensify the exchange of students, doctoral candidates and employees in order to promote the transfer of knowledge.

Extended research activities and study visits

Another point was the idea of ​​a theses tandem on site in Namibia. Many options for study stays are currently hardly known, which should now be improved. Prof. Oliver Günther will be in June 2023 together with biodiversity researcher Prof. Dr. Anja Linstädter travels to Namibia. The reason for this is the completion of the “NamTip” project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) with over one million euros. This project addresses desertification tipping points in the context of climate change.

During their stay, Gunther and Linstädter will also visit the research sites in the Waterberg region. An exchange with farmers about the “TipEx” experiment, which studies the effects of drought and overgrazing on pasture vegetation, is also planned.

Biodiversity economics in Namibia

A large part of the Namibian population, around 70 percent, relies on natural resources. However, both biodiversity and protected areas in Namibia are under pressure. This is caused by population growth, unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change. Despite these challenges, Namibia has a history of conservation success, with protected areas covering more than 40 percent of the land area.

However, the protected areas are fragmented and there is a lack of coordination and funding, so a new project was launched. This aims to transform the protected areas into a system of well-coordinated landscapes. Sustainable economic use is intended to create a conservation value, while also promoting sectors such as tourism, which are closely linked to the preservation of biodiversity.

The project on biodiversity management and climate change is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It aims to implement coordinated policies on biodiversity and climate change and improve the livelihoods of local natural resource users. This is also intended to achieve the sustainable development goals in Namibia, especially in rural areas.

The collaboration between the University of Potsdam and Namibian institutions makes an important contribution to improving the quality of life in Namibia and preserving biodiversity. This shows once again how interdisciplinary and international cooperation is crucial for overcoming global challenges.

In addition, this project also supports the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to promote the implementation of measures on biodiversity and climate change. These measures aim to ensure more effective application of environmental laws and greater transparency in environmental management.