NEDBANK's Go Green Fund has been at the forefront of funding environmental projects in Namibia and has so far given grants totalling close to N$3 million to more than 30 conservation and environmental projects in the country.

This was said by the bank's managing director, Erastus Hoveka, during the recent disbursement of N$431 000 to four different projects.

The Mobile Carnivore Lab project got a grant of N$15 000. The Spotted Hyena Ecology and Human Wildlife project in the Caprivi Region was given N$90 000, the Gobabeb Training and Research Internship Programme received N$41 250 while the Leopards of the Auas Oanob Conservancy was granted N$150 000.

Hoveka said the Go Green Fund is an initiative in which Nedbank has partnered with the Namibia Nature Foundation.

Environmentalist Chris Brown, who is a member of the Go Green Fund steering committee, said Namibia is doing well in conservation and some species are recovering.

The challenge for Namibia is human-wildlife conflict and it is pleasing that the Nedbank Go Green Fund is giving money to projects which address this problem, he said.

Brown called on other banks to follow Nedbank's example.

“Not many banks are green,” he said. He called on recipients of the grants to work hard so that their projects can be successful.

Absalom Shigwedha is a freelance environmental journalist.