On Thursday morning, a notice of appeal was filed with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to revoke the Environmental Impact Certificates (ECC), according to which mining was allowed in the protected and conservanial areas southwest of Khorixas. This came after the High Court temporarily banned all mining operations in the area in an urgent procedure until the environmental officer Timoteus Mufeti made a decision on the mining applications of Timoteus Mashuna and Otilie Ndeshetelwa Ndimulunde. "We demand the immediate withdrawal of their respective permits, which would cancel the mining applications," reads the complaint filed by the head of the Doro ! Well, Don Andrew, read out yesterday when handing over the petition. "If our request is not heeded, we will be forced to take this matter to other courts, both domestically and internationally, to protect our endangered black rhino and habitat," Andrew warned. According to the complaint, or complaint, these mining operations threaten "the safety and habitat of the endangered black rhino species". In addition, the ministry is accused of not supporting the efforts of the conservancies to maintain their "high-quality tourism". Andrew claims that this mining operation would endanger the livelihoods of an estimated 15,000 people who depend on the conservancies and the tourism associated with them. The Deputy Minister of the Environment, Heather Sibungo, accepted the complaint. "I acknowledge your concern from the bottom of my heart. I will make sure that the matter is heard as soon as possible so that we can get back to you," she told the protesters. Asked if he believed the ministry would withdraw the environmental certificates, Andrew replied, "I hope so."