Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698750780818.pdf (Namibia)
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM OFFICE OF THE MINISTER Tel: (+264 61) 284 2335 Fax: (+26461) 232 057 Cnr Robert Mugabe & Dr Kenneth Kaunda Street Private Bag 13306 Windhoek Namibia VOTE 18 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM 2016/2017 FINANCIAL YEAR BUDGET SPEECH BY HON.
POHAMBA SHIFETA MP MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND TOURISM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, 24 MARCH 2016 "Stop the poaching of our rhinos" All official correspondence must be addressed to the Permanent Secretary Comrade Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Honourable Members of this August House, On behalf of my Colleague, Deputy Minister Cde.

Tommy Nambahu and on my own behalf, I would like to thank H.E.
the President Dr Hage Geingob for the trust and confidence he has vested in us to contribute positively towards achievement and fulfilling the mandate of this social and economic Ministry.

Further allow me to express our appreciation to the Hon.

Minister of Finance for the fair allocation of scarce resources during this difficult period.

Hon.

Chairperson, The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has made concerted efforts to execute its mandate with high performance, despite many challenges.
The 2015/16 financial year has been one of significant progress in terms of strengthening our systems and capacity to manage the environment.

This is a critical issue as our economy expands and pressures on the natural environment increase.

Over 320 environmental impact assessments and applications for environmental clearances for 145 mining claims were processed in this financial year.
I am further pleased to report that we have become more visible on-the- ground in terms of monitoring compliance to the Environmental Management Act.

During the period under review, we embarked on a region-by-region inspection programme and have also sensitized regional and local stakeholders on their obligations regarding the Environmental Management Act and the management of waste in particular.
Almost 100 sites have so far 2 been inspected and this ending financial year has been the first year in which we have issued compliance orders against those contravening the Environmental Management Act.

I trust that by now the importance of compliance with this Act is fully appreciated by all of us, including all Organs of State.

Hon.

Chairperson, The.


Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia became only the second African institution to become accredited to the Green Climate Fund in July 2015, and we are currently preparing six project proposals for submission to the Green Climate Fund in the areas of renewable energy, clean transportation in the City of Windhoek, climate resilient agriculture and community based natural resources management.
I believe these projects will have a transformative impact on our development and we will work closely with the Green Climate Fund to operationalize these Projects as soon as possible.

Hon.
Chairperson, The Environmental Investment Fund is well-positioned to spearhead Namibia's transition to a low-Carbon and climate resilient economy and during the 2015-16 financial year it provided the following contributions towards greening the economy and eradicating poverty: • Provision of micro-concessional loans to more than 160 households; • Loan support to 7 SMEs worth N$14 million in the areas of sustainable agriculture, waste management and renewable energy; 3 • Support worth N$13 million to 21,000 Namibians in grant financing in the areas of conservation, biodiversity-based businesses, green technologies and research; • Support to 32 young Namibians worth N$6.2 million to undertake environment-related tertiary education courses; and • Estimated creation of 349 permanent jobs.
Hon.

Chairperson, Namibia has an impressive network protected areas.

The twenty (20) state- run Protected Areas cover about 17 per cent of the country's land surface.

The Protected Areas conserve biodiversity by protecting some of the country's most important habitats and species of national and global significance.

The country's commitment to biodiversity conservation is reflected in the Constitution.
Article 95 (I) provides the foundation for the formulation of policies, legislation and programmes aimed at safeguarding the country's biodiversity and ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations.

The country has put in place policies and legislative framework for freehold farms, communal conservancies and community forests to acquire rights over wildlife, trees and non-timber products, and tourism.

To date, 44% of Namibia's land area is under one or other form of conservation management.
This policy framework has led to ever increasing areas of land being converted to indigenous biodiversity production systems, including wildlife, tourism and forestry.

This has seen a significant increase in wildlife numbers and diversity across the country through effective local management and 4 reintroduction.

Namibia has also promoted good relations with communities neighbouring protected areas.

The conservancy programme is a unique success story in this country.
During the last two decades, Namibia experienced remarkable recovery of all large mammals, including rhinoceros and elephants, through commendable and innovative interventions by the Government, such as the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM).

CBNRM is an innovative approach linking conservation to poverty eradication through its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product, employment creation and the improvement of the well-being and social upliftment of rural communities.
Currently Namibia holds the second largest population of rhinoceros in the world and the world largest population of black rhinoceros.

The world's largest contiguous elephant population of about 250,000 elephants occurs within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) which comprises Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
About 50,000 elephants occur in northwestern Zimbabwe, about 150,000 in northern Botswana, about 16,000 in northeastern Namibia, and the balance in south-western Zambia and south-eastern Angola.

Of recent Namibia has experienced unprecedented levels of rhinoceros poaching.

Eighty six (86) rhinoceros were poached in 2015.

Combatting 5 poaching and the illegal trafficking of wildlife products have become the most important activities of our Ministry and consume the lion's share of our resources.
I wish to acknowledge also the contributions from the Namibian Police, our judiciary, and other D/M/As such as the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defense, the Namibia Central Intelligence Service and others and especially the prosecutors and magistrates.

Much remains to be done, however, and I appeal for strengthened collaboration and coordination.
In this coming year I aim to table new legislation and amendments to other legislation to strengthen our ability to combat this scourge and increase fines and penalties significantly.

Namibia needs to be very well prepared to deal with threats to its rhino, elephant populations, and other wildlife species in the light of recent trends elsewhere in Africa and particularly those in neighbouring countries.
In addition to dealing with threats to rhino and elephant populations, human wildlife conflict remains a challenge.

The Ministry would like to manage human wildlife conflict in ways that recognize the rights and development needs of the people; recognize the need to promote biodiversity conservation; promote self-reliance and ensure that decision-making is quick, efficient and based on the best available information.
In order to achieve this, we need to develop appropriate mitigation and monitoring methods and develop the capacity of all stakeholders to manage human wildlife conflict.

Hon.

Chairperson, Hon.

Members, The latest tourism statistics, for the year 2014, indicate a significant growth 6 in tourism.
The Namibian tourism sector is in a healthy state and has risen from a small contributor to the third largest contributor to GOP as well as a significant driver for empowerment, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Growth and investment strategies were developed in the past year to transform Namibia into a most competitive tourism destination.

The strategies were approved by Cabinet and will shortly be submitted to the Parliamentary Committee for endorsement.
They will become the guiding instruments for the tourism sector for the next twenty years or until the situation requires a new approach.

Hon.

Chairperson, Hon.

Members, BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS: Allow me to present to this August House the budgetary allocation for the current financial year 2016/2017.

The Ministry has been allocated a total amount of five hundred and eighty one million, nine hundred and sixty one thousand Namibian Dollars (N$581 ,961 ,000).
This amount represents: • four hundred and forty two million, seven hundred and fifty five thousand Namibian Dollars (N$442,755,000) for the operational budget; and • one hundred and thirty nine million, two hundred and six thousand Namibian Dollars (N$139,206,OOO)for the development budget.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism's budget expressed in the Medium 7 Term Plan consists of six programmes, namely the following.
Programme 1: Wildlife and protected area management An amount of two hundred and thirteen million, one hundred and eighty nine thousand Namibian Dollars (N$213,189,000) is allocated to this programme.

This programme is intended to conserve natural resources and wildlife habitat in Namibia, to manage the protected areas such as our national parks, to support community based natural resource management and to ensure the sustainable use of wildlife resources.
The main activities are to managed the protected areas by implementing park management plans, as well as to safeguard wildlife by combatting poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products.

Programme 2: Protection and management of key species and natural habitat This programme is allocated with thirty one million, seven hundred and seventy five thousand Namibia Dollars (N$31, 775,000).

Effective conservation and management of wildlife will be achieved through applying sound scientific methodologies.
This programme supports the rehabilitation, maintenance and sustainable utilisation of biological diversity by providing a scientific basis for informed decision making.
The main activities in this programme are to: - Conduct, coordinate scientific research and monitor of wildlife species and populations of ecological and economic importance; 8 - Facilitate, through permit control, the sustainable utilization of wildlife resources in Namibia in terms of the Nature Conservation Ordinance (and thus supplementing law enforcement and other regulatory processes managed by other MET components); - Operating as the national implementing body for CITES, i.e.
the Namibian Management Authority for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; - Coordinating, supporting and overseeing national conservation and management programs for key species of economic and ecological importance, e.g.
buffalo, rhinoceros, large carnivores; - Capturing and translocation of rare species and other wildlife in support of protected area management, biodiversity conservation, restoring biodiversity and expanding the wildlife resource base for rural communities; and - Management of wildlife and tourism concessions on State land.
Programme 3: Tourism Development and Gaming An amount of eighty one million, four hundred and eighty five million Namibia Dollars (N$81 ,485,000) is allocated to ensure tourism and gaming industry is supported, regulated and contributes to the socio-economic development in Namibia The main activities in this programme are to: - Market Namibia as a tourism destination 9 - Support tourism development and awareness locally, nationally and internationally - Generate tourism research, statistics and surveys - Enhance the competitiveness of he Namibian tourism industry; and - Regulate the gaming industry Programme 4: Environmental Management and Regulation An amount of thirty six million, six hundred and eighty eight thousand Namibia Dollars (N$36,688,000) is allocated to this program.
This is to promote the sustainable utilization of Namibia's natural resources through sound environmental management and biodiversity conservation initiatives in order to ensure healthy ecosystems, improvement of livelihoods and co- existence between human society and the natural environment.
The main activities in this programme are to: - review Environmental Assessments and provide recommendations on the issuing of environmental clearance certificates; promote the management of waste, hazardous substances and pollution in an environmentally sound manner; monitor and enforce Environmental Management Plans and general measures for environmental protection; implement climate change mitigation and adaption measures; implement activities on communication, education, public awareness; strengthen natural capital accounting as a decision making support tool for sustainable development; - increase investments in nature based businesses and product research and development; and 10 - implement and management of brown environmental initiatives.
Programme 5 Planning, Coordination, Infrastructure development, Maintenance, Monitoring and Evaluation An amount of one hundred and forty eight million three hundred and seventy six thousand Namibia Dollars (N$148,376,OOO) is allocated to this programme which focuses on effective and efficient strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, development cooperation and infrastructure to enhance biodiversity, conservation and tourism development in Namibia.
The main activities in this programme are: - Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Strategies, programmes and projects of the Ministry; - Management and Coordination of development cooperation; - Implementation and management of Knowledge Management and information communication; - Support, monitoring, evaluation and maintenance of infrastructure; - Planning, coordination and implementation of infrastructure programmes; Programme 6: Administration, coordination and investments This program is allocated with seventy million, four hundred and forty eight thousand Namibia Dollars (N$70,448,OOO)to provide support to the holistic administrative issues such as finance, human resources, office accommodation, asset, logistical management and information technology.
11 The main activities that fall under this programme are: Executive management, Financial Management, Internal Audit, Human Resources Management, Information and Technology Asset Management and General Support.

Honourable Chairperson, Honourable Members, I would like to reiterate that the impacts from the above programmes of my Ministry cannot be over emphasized.
Tourism continues to be one of the pillars of our economy as it offers unlimited opportunities for development in many parts of the country particularly where few other economic opportunities exist and therefore tourism is the right vehicle with a high potential to alleviate poverty.
These programmes will lead to continued growth in the tourism sector, increased revenues to the State, employment creation, community participation and the increase in ownership of tourism enterprises on communal lands, enhanced regulatory and planning framework, the better monitoring of tourism development, improved service delivery and development at regional and local level in support of the decentralization programme.
Before I conclude, allow me to thank my Colleague the Deputy Minister, the Permanent Secretary, the management and the entire staff of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for their commitment and hard work that have enabled us to live up to our mandate.

May I also thank all the stakeholders for the roles they have played in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism towards execution of the Ministry's mandate.

12 Finally, I thank the Hon.


Minister of Finance for allocating four hundred and forty two million, seven hundred and fifty five thousand Namibia Dollars (N$442,755,000) for the Operational Budget which is a decrease from the previous allocation of one hundred and twelve million, six hundred and thirty thousand Namibia Dollars (N$112,630,000) or 20 per cent below the previous allocation.

I also thank the Hon.


Minister of Economic Planning Commission for allocating one hundred and thirty nine million two hundred and six thousand Namibia Dollars N$139,206,000 for our development budget, which is an increase of seven million seven hundred and six thousand Namibia Dollar (N$7,706,000) or 5.54 per cent over the previous allocation.
The Ministry therefore has one hundred and four million nine hundred and twenty four thousand Namibia Dollar (N$104, 924,000) or 15 per cent as a decrease in its overall allocation.

I now ask this August House to approve an amount of five hundred eighty one million nine hundred and sixty one thousand Namibia Dollars (N$581 ,961 ,000) for the execution of the mandate for the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for the financial year 2016/2017.

I thank you sincerely 13