By Nelson Kessy
10th May 2014
Vice-President Dr Mohammed Gharib
Bilal addresses the official opening of two-day symposium on wildlife
conservation in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him are Tourism and Natural
Resources Minister Lazaro Nyalandu.(Photo: Omar Fungo)
Against the backdrop of increasing
poaching incidents in the country’s national parks and game reserves, the
government is today set to announce a national anti-poaching strategy.
The strategy aims at providing proper guidance, harmonizing funding sources and providing better coordination between agencies and organizations in the achievement of shared objectives.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day international wildlife conservation conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal said the future of wildlife in the country, especially that of elephants, depends on adoption of effective security measures to ensure their survival in the natural habitats.
According to Dr Bilal, the government has been taking various measures to curb poaching, including routine patrols and special anti-poaching operations that included other law enforcement agencies.
“Despite the commitment and efforts the government has shown to fight poaching, it faces inadequate funding, poor equipment,” Dr. Bilal added
He further said that the poachers are becoming increasingly sophisticated … in the past they mostly riffle and local weapons … now they use combat weapons and communication equipment equipments.
He added that game rangers alone cannot do this job, and that there was need for concerted efforts in providing equipment and training.
Poaching for elephant tusks has increased dramatically in the recent past, threatening the jumbos in the wild. In the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem, for example, the elephant population has decline from 109,419 in 1976 to just 22,208 in 1991.
With support from international partners, the government is taking deliberate measures to curb this menace. As a result, poaching of elephants was greatly reduced and their numbers in the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem increased to 70,406 in 2006.
However, elephant poaching has been reduced across the country since 2008, leading to another big drop in the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem to just 13,084 in 2013.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu, said that the ministry is planning to establish a full-fledged authority to curb poaching of wildlife in Morogoro region – as well as supervising all other areas outside the Ngorongoro and Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) mandates.
“TANAPA has 57,000 square kilometres under its mandate … 8500 km squares under the Ngorongoro reserve and 112,000sqkm under Selous … the new authority would be supervise and monitor all wildlife areas outside the parks,” Nyalandu said.
“To fight poaching … the ministry has established an aviation unit … which will be used in fighting against poaching … the government has also bought three helicopters to facilitate ongoing anti-poaching operations,” Nyalandu said.
Meanwhile, IPP Executive chairman Dr. Reginald Mengi has advised the government to declare and take stern measures against poaching.
“If someone is found guilty of poaching … they should not just be fined or penalized … they should be taken direct to prison so they can feel the pinch … else only the poor will be taken to prison … as the rich ones scot free,” Dr. Mengi said.
He added that any ivory stocks found anywhere should be destroyed completely.
UNDP leader to close the conference
Meanwhile, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark is today set to officiate the closing ceremony of the two-day conference.
Elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade are major concerns in Africa and beyond -- with security, economic, political and ecological ramifications as the crimes increase in frequency and severity.
Claire Kamahoro, UNDP Communication Analyst said in a press statement that organized criminal gangs in East Africa were using sophisticated techniques to kill elephants, taking advantage of corruption to move ivory across borders and out of Africa.
She said: “UNDP has been working closely with the government of Tanzania and others in wildlife conservation to address these challenges.
National stakeholders will discuss and agree on actions to stop elephant poaching and illicit trade in illegal wildlife products.
This summit will be the first national conference following the international meetings held in Botswana, London and Paris.
The UN boss will later visit the Ruaha National Park to witness the results of anti-poaching efforts supported through UNDP and Global Environment Facility efforts.
The initiatives focus on conserving wildlife and the landscape of Tanzania’s Southern circuit, including Ruaha, Kitulo, Mpanga Kipengere and Mount Rungwe protected areas.
The UNDP leader and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, will also pay a courtesy call on National Assembly Speaker Anne Mkinda, MPs. and the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus in Dodoma on Monday to discuss the promotion of gender issues and advancement of women in politics.
While in Dar es Salaam, Clark will give opening remarks at the Steering Committee of the $26m UNDP Democratic Empowerment Project in support of the constitution referendum and 2015 general election. The Committee is led by the Chairs of the two Tanzanian election commissions and includes civil society, government, and donor representatives.
She will also address a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel from 6 pm today.
Helen Clark is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a UN committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.
Under her leadership UNDP has put in place new strategic directions in response to new global and development challenges.
She was a former three-term Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 - 2008. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister, Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres.
The strategy aims at providing proper guidance, harmonizing funding sources and providing better coordination between agencies and organizations in the achievement of shared objectives.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day international wildlife conservation conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal said the future of wildlife in the country, especially that of elephants, depends on adoption of effective security measures to ensure their survival in the natural habitats.
According to Dr Bilal, the government has been taking various measures to curb poaching, including routine patrols and special anti-poaching operations that included other law enforcement agencies.
“Despite the commitment and efforts the government has shown to fight poaching, it faces inadequate funding, poor equipment,” Dr. Bilal added
He further said that the poachers are becoming increasingly sophisticated … in the past they mostly riffle and local weapons … now they use combat weapons and communication equipment equipments.
He added that game rangers alone cannot do this job, and that there was need for concerted efforts in providing equipment and training.
Poaching for elephant tusks has increased dramatically in the recent past, threatening the jumbos in the wild. In the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem, for example, the elephant population has decline from 109,419 in 1976 to just 22,208 in 1991.
With support from international partners, the government is taking deliberate measures to curb this menace. As a result, poaching of elephants was greatly reduced and their numbers in the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem increased to 70,406 in 2006.
However, elephant poaching has been reduced across the country since 2008, leading to another big drop in the Selous-Mikumi ecosystem to just 13,084 in 2013.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu, said that the ministry is planning to establish a full-fledged authority to curb poaching of wildlife in Morogoro region – as well as supervising all other areas outside the Ngorongoro and Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) mandates.
“TANAPA has 57,000 square kilometres under its mandate … 8500 km squares under the Ngorongoro reserve and 112,000sqkm under Selous … the new authority would be supervise and monitor all wildlife areas outside the parks,” Nyalandu said.
“To fight poaching … the ministry has established an aviation unit … which will be used in fighting against poaching … the government has also bought three helicopters to facilitate ongoing anti-poaching operations,” Nyalandu said.
Meanwhile, IPP Executive chairman Dr. Reginald Mengi has advised the government to declare and take stern measures against poaching.
“If someone is found guilty of poaching … they should not just be fined or penalized … they should be taken direct to prison so they can feel the pinch … else only the poor will be taken to prison … as the rich ones scot free,” Dr. Mengi said.
He added that any ivory stocks found anywhere should be destroyed completely.
UNDP leader to close the conference
Meanwhile, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark is today set to officiate the closing ceremony of the two-day conference.
Elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade are major concerns in Africa and beyond -- with security, economic, political and ecological ramifications as the crimes increase in frequency and severity.
Claire Kamahoro, UNDP Communication Analyst said in a press statement that organized criminal gangs in East Africa were using sophisticated techniques to kill elephants, taking advantage of corruption to move ivory across borders and out of Africa.
She said: “UNDP has been working closely with the government of Tanzania and others in wildlife conservation to address these challenges.
National stakeholders will discuss and agree on actions to stop elephant poaching and illicit trade in illegal wildlife products.
This summit will be the first national conference following the international meetings held in Botswana, London and Paris.
The UN boss will later visit the Ruaha National Park to witness the results of anti-poaching efforts supported through UNDP and Global Environment Facility efforts.
The initiatives focus on conserving wildlife and the landscape of Tanzania’s Southern circuit, including Ruaha, Kitulo, Mpanga Kipengere and Mount Rungwe protected areas.
The UNDP leader and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, will also pay a courtesy call on National Assembly Speaker Anne Mkinda, MPs. and the Parliamentary Women’s Caucus in Dodoma on Monday to discuss the promotion of gender issues and advancement of women in politics.
While in Dar es Salaam, Clark will give opening remarks at the Steering Committee of the $26m UNDP Democratic Empowerment Project in support of the constitution referendum and 2015 general election. The Committee is led by the Chairs of the two Tanzanian election commissions and includes civil society, government, and donor representatives.
She will also address a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel from 6 pm today.
Helen Clark is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group, a UN committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.
Under her leadership UNDP has put in place new strategic directions in response to new global and development challenges.
She was a former three-term Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 - 2008. Throughout her tenure as Prime Minister, Clark engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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