MET urges farmers to secure environmental impact clearance

WINDHOEK, 03 JUL– The Ministry of Environment and Tourism 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 Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta at the launch of the revised national policy on human-wildlife conflict here 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, he noted that there are still people setting up illegal farm units and projects in wildlife areas, who later claim compensation of 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.
The new policy makes provision for revised amounts to be paid through the human-wildlife conflict’s self-reliance scheme.
The amounts include funeral expenses and related costs (N.dollars 100 000); injury with no loss of body part (N.dollars 10 000); injuries with loss of body part (N.dollars 30 000); and disability (N.dollars 50 000).
The compensation for loss of livestock includes cattle (N.dollars 3 000); goats (N.dollars 500); sheep (N.dollars 700); horses (N.dollars 800); donkeys (N.dollars 500); and pigs (N.dollars 700).
As for damage to crops, a quarter of a hectare will be compensated at N.dollars 250, while one hectare will be valued at N.dollars 1000.
The policy will run until 2027.
(NAMPA)