Dr. Kamwi is a fellow at ARIN. He is a forest scientist specializing in socio-ecological systems in forests; Geographical Information Systems; remote sensing; forest inventory and forest livelihood assessments. His research group works on a range of projects in remote regions of southern Africa and other forest ecosystems in Africa, including the miombo dry forest and woodlands and the riverine forests of Namibia’s ephemeral rivers. The goal is to understand the link between people and natural resource governance, the use of resources, and interventions that will successfully promote sustainable forest management. This includes a focus on the drivers of change in land cover and the modeling of carbon dynamics in natural woodland systems. In addition, his research focuses on the maintenance and enhancement of the sustainability of a range of environmental, social and economic benefits, while faced with future climate, socio-economic, political and environmental uncertainty and the decisions the society makes with implications for ecosystem services that forests provide.
His research attempts to interpret different land tenure systems as well as independency of important historic dates and changing socio-economic frameworks in northeast Namibia. Results show that land tenure has a direct impact on land use and land cover in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. This research provides a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of land use and land cover processes according to different development types realized by differentiated forest management.
Forestry livelihood assessment is a major societal contribution of Dr. Kamwi. The understanding of the complex interdependence between changing land use and land cover and rural livelihoods, together with coping options, is crucial for decision-making. Research findings show that for policy purposes, state interventions can play a significant role in promoting more sustainable natural resource usage and enables effective decision-making to reconcile the efforts of sustainable development and natural resource management. In addition, the research revealed that a combination of rural household activities and skills, influenced by a variety of factors, could lead to improved livelihoods of forest-dependent communities in Northern Namibia.
During the course of his career, Dr. Kamwi has worked within the national competent authority for forests as well as academia. He has represented Namibia in international fora, while his fieldwork has required him to work closely with rural communities. He thus has a good understanding of the research needs of forest stakeholders, across a broad spectrum of society, and his expertise and interest are well-suited to address these needs for meaningful impact.
Key publications:
Kamwi, J. M, and Kätsch, C. (2009). Using high-resolution satellite imagery and double sampling as a cost-effective means of collecting forest inventory data – the case of Hans Kanyinga Community Forest, Namibia. Southern Forests, 71(1): 49–58.
Kamwi, J. M., Chirwa, P. W. C., Manda, S. O. M., Graz, F. P. & Kätsch, C. (2015). Livelihoods, land use and land cover change in the Zambezi Region, Namibia. Population and Environment, 36: 1–24.
Kamwi, J. M., Kätsch, C., Graz, F. P., Chirwa, P. W. C, and Manda, S. O. M. (2016). Trends in land use and land cover change in the protected and communal areas of the Zambezi Region, Namibia. Environ Monit Assess, 189(5):242. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-017-5934-2.
Kamwi, J. M., Chirwa, P. W. C., Graz, F. P., Mosimane, A. W, and Manda S.O. (2016). Livelihoods and skills: evidence and policy implications in the Zambezi Region, Namibia. Afr. J. Food Agric. Nutr. Dev. 2018; 18(1): 13074-13094 DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.81.16640.
Taapopi, M., Kamwi, J. M., and Siyambango, N. (2018). Perception of Farmers on Conservation Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation in Namibia. Environment and Natural Resources Research; Vol. 8, No. 3; 2018.
Kamwi, J. M., Chirwa P. W. C., Graz, F. P, Manda, S. O. M, Mosimane, A. W. & Kätsch, C. (2018). Livelihood activities and skills in rural areas of the Zambezi region, Namibia: implications for policy and poverty reduction. Afr. J. Food Agric. Nutr. Dev. 2018; 18(1): 13074-13094.
Munthali, G. M., Davis, N., Adeola, A. M., Botai, J. O., Kamwi, J. M., Chisale, H. L. W., Oluwagbenga O.I. Orimoogunje, O. O. I. (2019). Local Perception of Drivers of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change Dynamics across Dedza District, Central Malawi Region, Sustainability 2019; Vol 11, 3-832.
Kamwi, J. M., and Mbidzo, M. 2020. Impact of land use and land cover changes on landscape structure in the drylands of Southern Africa: A case of the Zambezi Region, Namibia. GeoJournal. DOI: 10.1007/s10708-020-10244-x.
Mosimane, A, and Kamwi, J. (2020). Socio-demographic determinants of access to sanitation facilities and water in the rural areas of Omaheke and Oshikoto regions, Namibia. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development 20(03):15919-15935. DOI: 10.18697/ajfand.91.18850.
