Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu
The government is to re-open closed wildlife
corridors across the country, the Minister of Natural Resources and
Tourism, Lazaro Nyalandu announced yesterday.
He was speaking in the northern tourist hub city of Arusha during
the official launch of a project dubbed ‘Promoting Tanzania’s
Environment, Conservation and Tourism (PROTECT).’
“We are coming up with a special programme to reopen all wildlife corridors across the country,” he announced.
“ We are reopening the corridors to address the danger to wildlife
posed by human induced activities and private developers,” the minister
said.
He underscored the importance of ensuring wildlife corridors are
well conserved in efforts to maintain ecological and genetic
connectivity in these times of unprecedented habitat fragmentation, he
said.
“In recent years major wildlife corridors have been under great threat,” the minister admitted.
Nyalandu said PROTECT is aimed at improving the country’s
conservation capacity as well as combating wildlife poaching and
trafficking.
“The project will have policies and institutions that effectively
manage wildlife resources and enhance the effectiveness of law
enforcement,” he detailed.
This would result in the arrest and prosecution of poachers and
wildlife traffickers, he said, and it will encourage cooperation between
the civil society and the government, he added.
Nyalandu had earlier signed a contract with the US ambassador to
Tanzania, Mark Childress, for the US$14 million five-year project.
Supported by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID), it will be carried out by the US-based firm Engility
Corporation.
The launch took place in the Randilen Wildlife Management Area
(WMA) adjacent to the Tarangire National Park and is expected to boost
the war against wildlife poaching in the northern part of Tanzania.
US envoy to Tanzania, Ambassador Childress said in the short-term, PROTECT will respond to the immediate poaching crisis.
“At the same time it will lay the ground work for long term
successes in the fight against wildlife trafficking as well as
conservation of wildlife and biodiversity,” he added.
He said the project will also provide support to WMAs by enhancing
local expertise and improving the ability of communities to manage
resources.
“Small grants totaling US$2,75 million will be disbursed over the five years of the project,” he detailed.
He said these grants will promote innovative solutions for improved
wildlife management, strengthen key partners in their ability to carry
out their conservation mandate and provide incentives for private
investment in nature-based enterprises.
Ambassador Childress also announced that the “Endangered Ecosystem
Northern Tanzania Project” will be officially launched later this year.
He said the project will provide over US$14 million over five years
to boost anti-poaching activities. It will also provide direct support
to WMAs, communities and tourism operations for improved wildlife
management in northern Tanzania, he added.
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