Act causes concern

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Management Bill which has been under discussion for nearly 20 years to replace the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975 was introduced to the public this year on 8 August for comments. The environment ministry has also held meetings with selected role players in Windhoek, as well as in the regions. The draft act makes provision for the proclaiming and management of different nature reserves and conservancies. Furthermore it also makes provision for the keeping and hunting of different game species which include specially protected species, protected species, exotic species and huntable species and birds. Further provision is made for human-wildlife conflict management as well as the trade and research in wildlife and game products. With the introduction of the draft, farmers expressed their concern about some of the limiting factors which were included. This includes double game fencing for exotic animals, the limitation of hunting jackals and so on. Following these concerns NAPHA held a workshop on 28 September to which NAU representatives were invited. During the workshop Dr Chris Brown of the Namibian environment chamber gave an overview of the background against which the act was written. It was clear that NAPHA has done a lot of work to address the concerns of game owners as well as farmers. The delegates of the NAU also put their concerns about certain articles in the draft act on the table. These comments of NAPHA and the NAU together with the comments of other role players will be submitted to the environment ministry for further discussions. Following the comments of NAPHA and other institutions which were already received, it is clear that numerous articles of the draft act in its current form could cause discontent and should thus be adapted. According to a representative of the justice ministry, the draft act will still go a long way before it will be promulgated as an fully-fledged act.

Act causes concern

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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Act causes concern

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-25

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