Farmers must secure clearances
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has warned farmers embarking on projects that without environmental clearances, no compensation will be paid if there is damage by wild animals.
The environment ministry will not pay for damage caused by wild animals to farms and projects in wildlife-prone areas that do not have the required environmental impact certificate.
This was revealed by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta at the launch of the revised national policy on human-wildlife conflict in Windhoek on Monday.
Shifeta said by law, there are listed activities such as farm units and irrigation schemes that are obligated to be established with approval from the environmental commissioner within wildlife areas.
“There are a lot of irrigation schemes established without the approval of the environmental commissioner and later the ministry is held responsible for damage of these schemes. The ministry is not going to compensate for any of these, because people are just doing what they want,” explained Shifeta.
He emphasised that the environmental commissioner gives a clearance certificate after assessing the area and advises accordingly where the farm or project should be established, without hindering wildlife, for instance if it is situated on the migratory path of elephants in the area.
He noted that the Environmental Management Act 7 of 2007 only came into force in 2012, therefore owners of farms and projects that were established before the directive were given time to consult with the environmental commissioner for clearance certificates.
The Act promotes the sustainable management of the environment and the use of natural resources by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment.
However, Shifeta noted that there are still people setting up illegal farm units and projects in wildlife areas, who later claim compensation for damage due to wild animals.
Shifeta further clarified that communal farmers do not need a clearance certificate as such farms do not require an environment management plan.
NAMPA
This was revealed by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta at the launch of the revised national policy on human-wildlife conflict in Windhoek on Monday.
Shifeta said by law, there are listed activities such as farm units and irrigation schemes that are obligated to be established with approval from the environmental commissioner within wildlife areas.
“There are a lot of irrigation schemes established without the approval of the environmental commissioner and later the ministry is held responsible for damage of these schemes. The ministry is not going to compensate for any of these, because people are just doing what they want,” explained Shifeta.
He emphasised that the environmental commissioner gives a clearance certificate after assessing the area and advises accordingly where the farm or project should be established, without hindering wildlife, for instance if it is situated on the migratory path of elephants in the area.
He noted that the Environmental Management Act 7 of 2007 only came into force in 2012, therefore owners of farms and projects that were established before the directive were given time to consult with the environmental commissioner for clearance certificates.
The Act promotes the sustainable management of the environment and the use of natural resources by establishing principles for decision-making on matters affecting the environment.
However, Shifeta noted that there are still people setting up illegal farm units and projects in wildlife areas, who later claim compensation for damage due to wild animals.
Shifeta further clarified that communal farmers do not need a clearance certificate as such farms do not require an environment management plan.
NAMPA
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