Namibia has achieved extraordinary milestones in landscape protection with 45% of the country under some form of conservation management. But many of the landscapes both within and adjacent to Namibia are fragmented; a trend that is increasing and leading to loss of biodiversity. Habitat, wildlife connectivity, and space to move are particularly important in arid environments that are subjected to great variation in rainfall and flooding events as well as climate change.

Improving ecosystem connectivity is a major focus of the Landscapes Conservation thematic area, as the most effective way of protecting and retaining biodiversity, and underpinning a vibrant and sustainable economy where resident communities benefit. Efforts to optimally link habitats and allow for free movement of wildlife need to be pursued across all categories of land use, including national parks, forest reserves, communal conservancies, freehold farms, and across borders into Transfrontier conservation areas, such as KAZA, in our collective pursuit of future inclusive conservation goals.