Community forests in Namibia are central to promoting sustainable and participatory forest governance and enhancing livelihoods in communal land areas. Significant support from the government and the donor community has helped to establish community forests and promote more sustainable harvesting practices. However, community forests still face a number of challenges, and it is particularly important that sustainable funding models be developed that are less dependent on donors. Stronger partnerships between community forests and conservancies appear to be one way in which their viability may be enhanced.
This policy briefing makes the following recommendations:

forest management plans for community forests should be improved to form a meaningful basis for practical, day-to-day forest management activities. The development of forest management plans and annual community forest work plans requires enhanced support from the Directorate of Forestry (DoF)
community forests need improved funding models to support the Forest Management Committees (FMCs). in carrying out their activities. Where possible, community forests should be linked more closely with conservancies, which will require closer collaboration among the relevant support agencies and government departments
the DoF should consider appointing FMC members as salaried honorary forest officers in line with the Forest Act, in order to contribute to the financial sustainability of FMCs
more research is needed to assess the socio-economic benefits derived from community forests and to capture lessons from well functioning FMCs. Sustainable harvest levels and the growth responses of key timber species and non-timber resources should be assessed to support improved forest management planning