#SAVETHEOKAVANGO

Re:wild is standing with the people of Namibia and Botswana fighting the decision to allow oil exploration in the Okavango. Sign the open letter today.

blk-yel

We need more biodiversity, not extractives.

We don’t need more oil because we have enough proven reserves to supply demand as the world transitions to a more sustainable low-carbon economy.

Yet, Canadian oil company ReconAfrica has its sights set on the Okavango River Basin—including Namibia’s Kavango regions and Botswana’s Okavango Delta—an ecosystem that supports the livelihood of tens of thousands of people and serves as home to endangered wildlife, from lions and giraffes to African Wild Dogs and the world’s largest remaining population of Endangered Savanna Elephants. The Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Key Biodiversity Area, is also a lifeline to a desert delta and the main source of water for nearly one million people, relying on rivers originating in Angola, flowing through Namibia and emptying into northern Botswana.

  • Local leaders and activists have expressed their concern that the company did not adequately consult the people affected most by oil exploration and drilling in this region.
  • Re:wild and the international conservation community is standing with the people of Namibia and Botswana, activists on the ground and around the world as well as Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, in calling for an immediate moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Kavango River Basin to stop this irreversible and irresponsible treatment of our planet’s precious resources.
  • Protecting the Okavango from oil and gas drilling is in line with IUCN Resolution 136.
SIGN THE OPEN LETTER

Save the Okavango

We, the undersigned, are part of a growing community that defines progress not as the destruction of our planet to benefit a few, but as the protection of our irreplaceable natural resources to the benefit of all.

We stand in solidarity with the people of the Okavango River Basin in demanding a full moratorium on all oil and gas exploration and development in the Okavango River Basin, which includes the Kavango region of Namibia and is home to the famed Okavango Delta in Botswana.

Local communities in Namibia’s Kavango East and West regions deserve an independent and impartial public commission to examine oil and gas exploration in a way that is transparent, involves extensive consultation with them, and makes clear how this industry would affect their lives, rights, water, food security, and the natural environments of which they are custodians.

We further encourage the governments of Namibia and Botswana to consider sustainable, alternative energy so that they can meet their global climate and biodiversity commitments, while building a green economy that will benefit both countries’ people and wildlife in the long-term.

By signing this letter, we also pledge to use our collective voice to expose irresponsible extractive industry projects that pose a threat to ecosystems and the people who depend on them across the region by bringing sustained local, regional and international attention to them.

The choice is simple–either we preserve the wild and its benefits to humanity, or permanently destroy it through exploitation. We have made our choice by standing with local communities in embracing the former, protecting the irreplaceable Okavango River Basin for generations to come. 

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER

%your signature%

You can add formatting using markdown syntax – read more

By clicking “Send me email updates,” you consent to receive email updates from Re:wild about the Okavango and other irreplaceable places and species. You can unsubscribe at any time.

KEY SIGNATORIES

Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex

Reinhold Mangundu

Namibian environmental activist

Forest Whitaker

Academy Award winning actor and activist

Nemonte Nenquimo

Waorani Leader, Ceibo Alliance & Amazon Frontlines

Dr. Wes Sechrest

Re:wild

Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor and environmentalist

Djimon Hounsou

Actor and activist 

Michael Chase

Elephants Without Borders, Botswana

Max Muyemburuko

KEW Regional Conservancy and Community Forestry Association

Veruschka Dumeni

Namibian climate and environmental activist

Rinaani Musutua

Economic and Social Justice Trust, Namibia 

Dr. Chris Brown

Namibia Chamber of Environment (Representing 70 NGOs in Namibia)

Joram Useb

Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee

Anita Lekgowa

Indigenous Peoples of Africa Co-ordinating Committee

Nadia April

Women’s Leadership Centre

Mary Rice

Environmental Investigation Agency

Kweku Mandela

Film producer

Mike Holding

Director, cinematographer, Afriscreen

Dereck Joubert

CEO Great Plains, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence

Frans Lanting

Author and photographer “Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden”

Christine Eckstrom

Editor “Okavango: Africa’s Last Eden”

Colin Bell

Director, Natural Selection Travel

Global Citizen

Eriel Deranger

Indigenous Climate Action

Lourence S. Lirumba

Muduva Nyangana Conservancy

Thomas H. Muronga

Kapinga kaMwalye Conservancy

Eveline N. Kauma

Joseph Mbambangandu Conservancy

Johanes M. Sivava

Mbeyo Community Forest

Gervatius Mukuve

Ambrosius Haingura Community Forest

Kleopas Shaningwa

Katope Community Forest

Raymond Kafene

Maurusi Nekaro Conservancy

Stephanes Kudumo

Ambrosius Haingura Conservancy

Ellen DeGeneres

Entertainer and someone who cares
#SAVETHEOKAVANGO

MORE TO DISCOVER

Explore the Okavango

Meet the iconic species and characteristics of this region–and the people who rely on it.

READ MORE

Share with Friends

We’ve created a social toolkit for you to spread the word about protecting the Okavango.

GET IT NOW
Previous
Next
#SAVETHEOKAVANGO

ALL SIGNATORIES

Latest Signatures
25,908 Mona Rittinghaus May 22, 2022
25,907 Aimee Williams May 21, 2022
25,906 AIMAR FERRAN GUIJARRO May 20, 2022
25,905 Laurie Irizarry May 20, 2022
25,904 daniella dodge May 19, 2022
25,903 Heffa Schuecking Urgewald May 17, 2022
25,902 Simon Osborn May 17, 2022
25,901 Paul Stiel May 16, 2022
25,900 Tony Haynes none (Citizen) May 16, 2022
25,899 Vanessa Ayon Save the okavango May 15, 2022
25,898 Joe Domascieno May 15, 2022
25,897 Simon Stuart A Rocha International May 14, 2022
25,896 Christel Ferrasse May 14, 2022
25,895 Samuel Eaton May 14, 2022
25,894 Athina Ieridou May 14, 2022
25,893 Sigfried Hemming Fridays for future Toronto May 14, 2022
25,892 Elyne Atzmon Google ads May 14, 2022
25,891 Kara Coates May 13, 2022
25,890 Meghan Laszlo May 13, 2022
25,889 L Tin May 13, 2022
25,888 Cynthia Gustin Self May 13, 2022
25,887 Jennifer Rands May 13, 2022
25,886 Gabriella Rodriguez May 13, 2022
25,885 Judy Cooke Masibuyisane May 13, 2022
25,884 Joy Strydom JJRS Consulting May 13, 2022
25,883 Steve Koch Africa Outing Tours May 13, 2022
25,882 Francis Koa May 12, 2022
25,881 Monika Reed May 12, 2022
25,880 Michèle Carrier May 12, 2022
25,879 Claude Vernet May 12, 2022
25,878 Joan Chapman Climate Realty Project May 12, 2022
25,877 Rebecca Daniels May 12, 2022
25,876 Nicky Ueberjahn May 12, 2022
25,875 Mandy Zwaan May 12, 2022
25,874 Susan Bakshi ClimateFast May 12, 2022
25,873 David Brunetti May 12, 2022
25,872 Kari Pieterse May 12, 2022
25,871 Norma Brown May 12, 2022
25,870 Lynne Williams May 12, 2022
25,869 AnneChristine Carlsson May 12, 2022
25,868 Yumiko Abe-Jones May 12, 2022
25,867 Devika Chokshi May 11, 2022
25,866 Paul Moser May 11, 2022
25,865 Eva Köhle May 10, 2022
25,864 Colleen Lobel May 10, 2022
25,863 Roy sadler May 10, 2022
25,862 Jenni Sinclair May 10, 2022
25,861 Mary Ting John Jay College May 10, 2022
25,860 Joanna Brown May 10, 2022
25,859 Will Stew May 10, 2022
<< < > >>

Image Credits
Cover Photo: Frans Lanting
Carousel: The Women’s Leadership Centre, Windhoek; Cory Richards

© 2021 Re:wild. All Rights Reserved.      Charitable Solicitation Disclosure     |      Privacy Policy      |      Site Map