The Namibia Inquiry on Protecting Property, Livelihood and the Environment (NIPPLE) entered formal debate this morning.
NIPPLE serves as a point for collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and various Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), and it serves as a pilot program for managing human wildlife conflicts within Namibia.
Speeches this morning quickly revealed a common cause for concern amongst delegates was the issue of irrigation.
Earlier, an illegal irrigation process held by Hardap caused flooding in the Namibia region, causing damage to Namibia’s local populations. Local riverside communities relying on agriculture for their livelihood had their farms and lands destroyed.
NIPPLE narrowed their scope of debate to resolving this issue of irrigation. However, instead of addressing how to help affected local communities, the council entered discussions on how to save wildlife displaced by the flooding due to destroyed habitats.
When asked about his reasons for prioritising the needs of wildlife over local communities, Teofilus Nghtila stated that he recognised that the needs of the affected locals were important, but felt that wildlife, as animals without a mouthpiece, needed someone to act in their behalf. He added that a balance would be ensured between meeting the two groups’ needs.
NIPPLE’s discussion further progressed in this direction, inciting conflict between debates on a suitable method of relocating animals. Notably, one of the delegates was given a spontaneous demonstration on the technique of using a tranquiliser dart gun.
The council eventually passed directives addressing irrigation with regards to wildlife, only to move on to discussions of constructing a wildlife corridor.
How much more time will NIPPLE spend on wildlife before finally addressing the wellbeing of affected locals?
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