Namibia was an original signatory of the CBD in June 1992. We ratified the convention in 1997. However, there is a long history of biodiversity conservation and research activities in Namibia long before the entry into force of the convention, and we have very active national institutions in the biodiversity field. Our country study was published as a book in 1998 and our national biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP) is due for completion in the third quarter of 2000. This report focuses on our perhaps unusually partcipatory approach to the NBSAP, and its scope as the planning framework for implementation of the CBD.