Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698926216192.pdf (Namibia)
VOTE 18 2021/2022 FINANCIAL YEAR BUDGET STATEMENT BY Hon.

Pohamba Shifeta, MP MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND TOURISM NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, 2021 22 April 2021 1 Honourable Chairperson of the Whole House Committee, Hon Members I rise to present the budget of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for the 2021 / 22 financial year to this August house for approval.
It is my profound honor to inform you, Honourable Members, that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has been allocated an amount of Five Hundred and Twenty-four million, Six Hundred and Eighty-eight Thousand Namibian dollars (N$524,688,000) for the 2021/22 financial year.
This amount represents: • Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Namibian dollars (N$437,952,000) for the Operational Budget of which Eighty-five percent (85%) goes to personnel expenditures.

• Eighty-Six million, Seven Hundred and Thirty-six Thousand Namibian dollars (N$86,736,000) for the Development Budget.

Honorable Members, I will now briefly highlight the main priorities for the 2021/22 financial year in terms of the six programmes of the Ministry.
I will also touch very briefly on some of the major achievements during the 2020/21 financial year as I will 2 cover these in more detail as well as the challenges facing the Ministry when I table the 2020/21 Annual Report of the Ministry to this August House.

The first programme of the Ministry is Wildlife and Protected Area Management, which is allocated an amount of One Hundred and Eighty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Twelve Thousand Namibian dollars (N$187,712,000).
This is the largest programme of the Ministry and focuses mainly on the management of our twenty (20) protected areas, anti-poaching operations, prevention and mitigation of human wildlife conflict and support to the community based natural resource management programme.

The Ministry will continue, guided by the National Strategy on Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement (2020-2025), to implement a suite of anti- poaching measures and operations.
I am pleased to report a reduction in the poaching of our rhinos and elephants in 2020.

Thirty-one (31) rhinos were poached in 2020 compared to fifty-two (52) in 2019, while eleven (11) elephants were poached in 2020 compared to thirteen (13) in 2019.

Increased successes were also reported in terms of arrests, with 64 suspects arrested for cases relating to elephant cases and 304 suspects arrested for rhino cases.
It is unfortunate that our communal conservancies and community forests have been badly affected by the Covid 19 pandemic with income sources having been eroded, which has had a knock-on effect on employment, job creation 3 and livelihood sustenance for the inhabitants of the conservancies.
The Community Based Natural Resource Management remains a key priority spending programme for 2021 / 2022 and we will focus on growing the income generated for communities from wildlife, creating more jobs for rural communities based on value addition to natural resources, and providing game meat for household consumption to rural communities.

2020/21 was equally a tough year in terms of Human Wildlife Conflict.
An estimated 1,195 head of livestock and 660 hectares of crop fields were destroyed by various wild animals.

We regret that during this financial year, unfortunately, eight people lost their lives to wildlife and forty-one people suffered injuries.

The Kunene, Zambezi and Kavango East and West regions were again worst affected by this phenomenon.
The Ministry will continue to implement the Human Wildlife Conflict Self Reliance Scheme and roll out a range of measures designed to prevent and mitigate the impact of instances of human wildlife conflict in 2021/22.

A further important development in the 2020/21 is the introduction of a conservation fee for visitors to protected areas, which will be re-invested into protected areas and wildlife management through the Game Product Trust Fund.
Honorable Members, The second programme of the Ministry is the Protection and Management of Key Species and Natural Habitats, which is allocated a total of twenty-six million, ninety-four thousand Namibian dollars (N$26,094,000).

This programme focuses on scientific research to guide our strategies and 4 plans to protect and manage key species and natural resources.
The main key activities here will be aerial surveys of our wildlife populations, implementation of new tourism concessions in the Tsau //Khaeb National Park and the development of species management plans.

It is notable that species management plans were finalized for elephant and crocodile in 2020/21 and we will be developing similar plans for lions and African wild dog in 2021/22.
Honorable Members, The third programme of the Ministry is Tourism Growth Development and Gaming Regulations, which is allocated an amount of seventeen million, seven hundred and one thousand Namibian dollars (N$17,701,000) This programme will focus on a variety of initiatives to revive and reboot the tourism industry in line with the International Tourism Revival Initiative.
In collaboration with multiple partners, the Ministry will continue to ensure the implementation of the Conservation Relief, Recovery and Resilience Facility (CRRRF), which was established in May 2020 and has targeted support mainly to communal conservancies and tourism enterprises in conservancy areas.
Through the vehicle of the CRRRF, we have managed to disburse N$19 million to 79 conservancies while over N$10.4 million has been paid out to tourism business enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in conservancies.

Further priorities under this Programme will be the establishment of the long- awaited State Lottery and Gaming Boards to oversee the development of a 5 National Lottery and to improve regulation of the gambling sector.
These entities once established, are expected to generate more revenue for the Treasury.

Honorable Members, The fourth programme of the Ministry is Environment and Natural Resources Protection, which is allocated a total amount of One Hundred and Twenty-Five Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Namibian dollars (N$125,752,000).

This programme is prioritized for functions relating to the enforcement of the Environmental Management Act, 2007 (Act No.7 of 2007), Forestry Act, 2001 (Act No.
12 of 2001), sustainable forest management, implementation of various multilateral environmental agreements as well as environmental education, awareness and education for sustainable development.

Under this programme, the Ministry will, in accordance with the Environmental Management Act of 2007, continue to strengthen measures to tackle activities leading to the degradation of the environment such as sand mining, timber harvesting and waste disposal practices.
This involves the sensitization of key stakeholders such as private sector companies, local authorities, traditional authorities and regional councils as well as a programme of monitoring and inspections of sites where different listed activities are undertaken.
As the focal Ministry on climate change, adaptation and mitigation, the Ministry 6 will also continue to coordinate with other key stakeholders the identification of large-scale transformative projects in the areas of water, food and energy security in our efforts to pursue the green economy development pathways.
Under the sustainable forest management portfolio, implementation of the National Forest and Veld Fire Management Policy and Strategy 2020-2024 will be a key activity given the high level of biomass caused by the good rains in most parts of the country this year.

Local communities will be capacitated on the use of the forest fire-fighting equipment and techniques and will also be engaged in clearing fire breaks (fire cut lines) in fire prone areas.
In order to enhance forest fire management at the local level, the Ministry will continue to undertake forest fire awareness campaigns countrywide.

The Ministry will also be transforming the management of nurseries, orchards and plantations for the upliftment of the Namibian people.

Under the national tree planting campaign, trees will be planted on 300 hectares and it is planned to produce 130,000 seedlings at Ministerial nurseries to sell to the general public and to donate to public institutions.
Implementation of the bush control programme to increase the land’s carrying capacity and to add value to invader bush will be another important activity.

Currently bush utilisation, in the form of charcoal production, provides up to 7 11 000 jobs in the country and the Ministry will continue to ensure that this industry is developed in a sustainable manner.
Honorable Members, The fifth programme of the Ministry is Infrastructure and Development, Maintenance Monitoring and Evaluation, which is allocated an amount of Eighty-Million, Three Hundred and Fourty-One Thousand Namibian dollars (N$80,341,000).

The program will focus mainly on the construction of new infrastructures, maintenance and upgrading of parks’ fences, tourist roads, water points and waste management facilities in protected areas.
I am pleased to report that the Ministry has developed an effective approach making use of our own staff members to upgrade and repair the Etosha National Park boundary fence and this will continue in 2021/22 and be applied to the Mahango Park fence.

Lastly this Programme will also support approaches and technologies to mitigate Human Wildlife Conflict and it is planned to also translocate 500 head of wildlife to 25 beneficiary farmers through the Wildlife Breeding Stock Scheme in 2021/22.
Honorable Members, The sixth and final programme of the Ministry is Policy, Supervision and Support Services, which is allocated an amount of Eighty-seven million, Eighty-eight Thousand Namibian dollars (N$87,088,000).

8 This programme will focus on enhancing organizational performance and improving service delivery.

In this regard, the Ministry will commence with the development of an integrated online system, whereby all permits issued by the Ministry will be accessible online.
The provision of Covid-19 personal protective equipment and improvement of health and safety measures and materials at our workplaces will be a priority to prevent the spread and loss of lives.

In addition, the Ministry will continue to identify and implement new cost cutting measures to ensure that resources are used in the most economical, efficient and effective manner.
Finally, Honorable Chairperson, allow me to thank the Honourable Minister of Finance and Director General of the National Planning Commission for the 2021/22 operational and development budget allocations to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as presented.
I now kindly and humbly, ask this August House to approve the overall budget of Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand Namibian dollars (N$524,688,000) for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism for the 2021/22 financial year.

I thank you.

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