Farmers express concern over cost
Consultations are currently being held over proposed regulations that will require a full impact assessment before activities can begin.
Farmers have raised concern over new proposed draft regulations that will require environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for normal de-bushing activities.
The GIZ last week held a workshop during which inputs were given by stakeholders about government's planned draft regulations regarding EIAs. According to the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) the environmental ministry has requested the GIZ to facilitate proposals in this regard.
The NAU said Stephan Bezuidenhout from Environmental Compliance Consultancy was contracted as consultant by the GIZ.
“The concerns of the farming community are that the draft regulations require that for normal de-bushing activities EIAs are required which are very expensive and might have a negative effect on agronomy, charcoal and rangeland activities,” said the NAU.
Proposals by role players which were submitted and accepted make provision that EIAs are only required at large de-bushing projects which might have a negative impact on the environment.
“If the regulations are approved, de-bushing projects which require harvest permits from the agricultural ministry's department of forestry will have to get an exemption from the Environmental Commissioner,” said the NAU.
In practice, a form must be completed with the details of the project.
The commissioner will then issue an exemption certificate for normal activities. If the size of the project however seems to be too big, the commissioner can insist that a scoping must be done. For this another standard form must be completed with more information and details.
“If it is a big project, he will require a complete EIA. Forestry will issue no harvest or transport permits without an exemption certificate from the Environmental Commissioner,” the NAU said.
STAFF REPORTER
The GIZ last week held a workshop during which inputs were given by stakeholders about government's planned draft regulations regarding EIAs. According to the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU) the environmental ministry has requested the GIZ to facilitate proposals in this regard.
The NAU said Stephan Bezuidenhout from Environmental Compliance Consultancy was contracted as consultant by the GIZ.
“The concerns of the farming community are that the draft regulations require that for normal de-bushing activities EIAs are required which are very expensive and might have a negative effect on agronomy, charcoal and rangeland activities,” said the NAU.
Proposals by role players which were submitted and accepted make provision that EIAs are only required at large de-bushing projects which might have a negative impact on the environment.
“If the regulations are approved, de-bushing projects which require harvest permits from the agricultural ministry's department of forestry will have to get an exemption from the Environmental Commissioner,” said the NAU.
In practice, a form must be completed with the details of the project.
The commissioner will then issue an exemption certificate for normal activities. If the size of the project however seems to be too big, the commissioner can insist that a scoping must be done. For this another standard form must be completed with more information and details.
“If it is a big project, he will require a complete EIA. Forestry will issue no harvest or transport permits without an exemption certificate from the Environmental Commissioner,” the NAU said.
STAFF REPORTER
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