Posted on 25 October
2013 | Global conservation organization
WWF has recognized Namibia for its outstanding
conservation achievements.
The Namibian President,
His Excellency Hifikepunye Pohamba, is being
presented today with a WWF Gift to the Earth
Award – the second the country has received
– by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former President
of WWF International. The ceremony is taking
place in the Namibian capital Windhoek on
the occasion of the Adventure Travel World
Summit.
Over the past two decades,
the people and government of Namibia in
South-West Africa have developed a communal
conservancy movement, whereby local communities
are fully involved in the ownership and
management of their natural resources and
wildlife – for the benefit of people and
nature alike.
“Namibia’s achievements
are impressive and inspiring,” said Jim
Leape, Director General of WWF International.
“I congratulate President Pohamba, the Namibian
government and support organizations, and
all the dedicated local community members
who have demonstrated the concept of people
living in harmony with nature, WWF’s global
mission.”
There are 79 communal
conservancies – community wildlife management
units – across Namibia, covering one fifth
of the country’s land and involving one
in ten of its citizens.
Wildlife populations
in conservancies – such as zebra, oryx,
giraffe, buffalo and lion – are recovering,
providing the basis for successful environmentally
responsible tourism ventures and the sustainable
use of wildlife. The poaching of elephants
and rhinos has also been dramatically reduced.
“The strong commitment
to nature conservation of the Namibian government
and people is truly unique,” said Jim Leape.
“Namibia was the first country in Africa
to enshrine conservation in its Constitution,
and almost half of its land is under some
form of conservation management."
"Namibia’s empowerment
of rural communities to manage their wildlife
resources – while providing incentives for
them to do so – is visionary.”
Countries across Africa,
Asia and Latin America are now studying
the Namibian model of communal conservation
to learn how they might apply it themselves.
The Gift to the Earth
is WWF’s most prestigious Award for governments,
companies or public sector institutions.
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UK government opposes
Soco’s oil exploration in Virunga
Posted on 24 October
2013 | Plans by London-based oil company
Soco International PLC to explore for oil
in a fragile African World Heritage Site
have hit firm opposition from the UK government.
In a written response
to a question on the issue posed by a fellow
UK parliament member, Parliamentary Undersecretary
of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Mark Simmonds reiterated last week that
the country is against Soco’s oil activities
in area.
“The UK continues to
oppose oil exploration in Virunga National
Park,” Simmonds said. “The park is a World
Heritage Site listed by UNESCO as being
‘in Danger’.”
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UP TO SAVE VIRUNGA!
Simmonds added that
British diplomats in Democratic Republic
of the Congo (DRC) have notified Congolese
authorities of the country’s position.
“The UK embassy in Kinshasa
has raised oil exploration in the park at
various levels in the DRC government and
we have made clear to them that we oppose
such activity.”
Despite concerns from
humanitarian groups, conservationists and
local community members, Soco has moved
forward with oil exploration in Virunga,
Africa’s oldest national park.
Earlier this month WWF
filed a formal complaint with the UK government
alleging that Soco’s operations in DRC violate
human rights and environmental standards.
Evidence submitted includes reports of unlawful
detentions, intimidation and threats against
the safety of anti-oil activists, WWF contends.
“Soco has disregarded
good business practice by flouting international
treaty provisions that are meant to protect
the outstanding universal value of this
World Heritage Site,” said Lasse Gustavsson,
Executive Director of Conservation at WWF
International. “That is not how a responsible
corporation behaves. Virunga is no place
for an oil company and Soco should leave
now.”
Over half a million
people have joined WWF to demand that Virunga
National Park be protected from the damaging
impacts of oil. The World Heritage Site
is home to endangered species and provides
fish and freshwater to over 50,000 nearby
residents.
