On behalf of our communities living in Doro !Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein communal conservancies, we hereby humbly request that you prevent the mining of cheap tin in our Joint Management Area – an important area for black rhinoceros and high-value tourism. Our conservancies have worked closely with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism and Save the Rhino Trust for 17 years to protect these rhinos. Until recently, our communities have seen few benefits from our years of dedication. This all changed when we entered a joint venture agreement with Ultimate Safaris, which is already operating and planning to build another high-value low-impact, environmentally friendly camp in this Joint Management Area for rhino-based tourism. These tourism plans are projected to generate over N$311 million over 25 years, along with 60-70 jobs for our communities. This operator also helps us to employ our Rhino Rangers, which reduces poaching threats. Black rhinos are the main attraction for tourists visiting these camps, thus finally repaying our commitment to protecting them. We were therefore shocked and dismayed to find out that your office had granted an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) for a cheap tin mine in our Joint Management Area. The mining license holders, Ms. Ottilie Ndilumunde and Mr. Timoteus Mashuna, do not live in our area and have shown no regard for the environment by building a large road contrary to the stipulations and undertaking mining activities well beyond the scope of their Environmental Clearance Certificated. Data provided by our Rhino Rangers has already proven that the heavy machinery used at the mining site over a very short period has already displaced rhinos. Ms. Ndilumunde and Mr. Mashuna have not agreed to compensate our conservancies for loss of income as a result of their mining activities and have not formally committed to any local job creation. For this reason, we have now needed to spend millions in legal costs, money that could have been used far more productively to develop our conservancies sustainably, to fight this mining development in court, because of a lack of any response or action from your office. The area of concern has also historically been withdrawn, protecting it from mining activities, a status you inexplicably changed without any due consultation to enable the registration of these mining claims. We further insist that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) did not follow due procedures. None of our people were properly consulted about this mine. Further, the commercial value of rhino-based tourism was ignored in favour of a cheap tin mine that will chase away the rhinos and bring no lasting benefits to our communities. According to a recent study and economic analysis, 40% of the Doro !Nawas and Ûibasen communities are employed in the wildlife sector. Tourism jobs often come with training, skills development, and a path to career advancement. While 38% of tourism employees are women, mining only employs 17% of women. Most of the jobs available to local people (if any) will be as labourers with no chance of developing skills or advancing their careers.