On 20 July 2022, various national and international experts met for the first national conference on the future of Namibia's forests in Windhoek. The objective of the conference titled 'The Future of Namibia's Forests - Sustainable Forest Management as Key to Unlock its Potential' was to discuss the current state of forest management in Namibia, as well as to identify potential pathways for a bioeconomy-based value chain for Namibia. Against the backdrop of Sustainable Forest Management, the conference aimed at providing decision-makers of the public and private sector with a better understanding, as well as with ideas on how to tackle the economic, social and environmental challenges of today and tomorrow. In order to strengthen local knowledge, skills, and capacities for sustainable management of forests, various experts from Namibia, South Africa, Ghana, the UK and Germany presented on two guiding topics, namely (i) 'Sustainable Development, Management and Conservation of Forests' and (ii) 'Adding Value to Namibia’s Forest Products'.