Walking Wetlands

Connecting People to Nature on World Wetlands Day

On World Wetlands Day, we commemorated the importance of wetlands through guided wetland walks in Windhoek and Swakopmund, offering participants an opportunity to engage directly with ecosystems that quietly underpin Namibia’s environmental resilience.

Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet.  They regulate water flows, buffer the impacts of climate variability, store carbon and provide critical habitat for biodiversity, particularly migratory bird species that depend on these sites as stopover and breeding areas.  Yet, despite their value, wetlands remain highly vulnerable to degradation and loss.

Through the planned guided walks, participants explored wetlands not only as ecological spaces, but as living systems that support livelihoods, climate adaptation and long-term environmental stability.  The activity created spaces for informed dialogue, observation and reflection, strengthening public understanding of why wetlands conservation is integral to sustainable development.

These guided walks were made possible through the CREAF Project, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. We further extend our appreciation to our partners, the Namibia Bird Club and the Namibian Youth Chamber of Environment, whose collaboration continues to strengthen environmental awareness and youth engagement across Namibia.