Two communal conservation areas near Khorixas feel betrayed by the decision of the environment ministry to allow mining activities in a joint management area where rhinos are threatened. The conservation areas of Doro ! Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein recently succeeded in obtaining a court order to stop road construction activities related to mining claims within their nuclear rhino conservation area. The Aodaman Traditional Authority and Ultimate Safaris, a joint venture tourism partner, join these applicants in their case against mining plaintiffs Ottillie Ndimulunde and Timothy Mashuna. Their case is also against the environment and mining ministry and the environment and mining commissioner. In a statement issued by the two conservation areas, it said that the decisions taken by the Environment Commissioner to grant an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) and register mining claims in an important rhino conservation area are contrary to the National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas. It said it was a joint policy of the environment ministries and mines. The conservation areas have stated that they are also against the Revised National Strategy for Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement. "We have committed ourselves to protecting the black rhinos that we received from the Ministry of the Environment in 2007," said Laurens Hoeseb, chairman of Doro! Nawas, said. "This includes plans and strategies to protect a joint management area as core rhino habitat. We feel betrayed by the Ministry of the Environment that has allowed mining to continue in our area."