The East African Legislative Assembly session in Arusha, Tanzania has passed a critical report on poaching in the region, rallying Partner States to reform wildlife laws and put in place initiatives that promote upkeep of communities that neighbor the wildlife conservancy areas.
The Oversight report on poaching presented to the House by the Chair of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources Committee, Hon Christophe Bazivamo, further urges Partner States to develop/improve wildlife conservation strategies and protection measures through patrols, joint cross border operations, surveillance and information sharing.
With it, the Assembly says Partner States should and can provide part of the revenue collected from wildlife tourism to the communities living around the National Parks to promote conservation.
President Uhuru Kenyatta recently presided over the burning of tonnes of elephant tusks and rhino horns to protest poaching, which is pushing several iconic species to the brink of extinction.
Speaking at the ivory burning event, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta stated that by killing elephants the continent risked losing its heritage in addition to destroying the highly beneficial tourism industry which has faced numerous threats in the recent past.
“No one has any business trading in ivory, for this trade means death of our elephants and death of our national heritage. In destroying the ivory, we reject once and for all, those who think our natural heritage can be sold for money” he said.
“Ivory is worthless unless it is on a living elephant,” he added.
He urged all stakeholders to become custodians of the planet and its wildlife.
Parks
EALA MPs recently visited the Serengeti National Park and the Mwaloni Kirumba fish market in Mwanza, Tanzania as well as the Nairobi National Park.
The Serengeti National Park is dubbed as one of the park’s with the greatest concentration of game in the region and famed for over two million wildebeest, half a million Thomson’s gazelles and a quarter of a million, zebras.
The Committee observed that mining settlements are interfering with the migration path of some animals and mechanized agriculture has taken over where wildebeests would historically breed their calves.
This has caused a loss of habitat for many species in the Serengeti. At the same time, Hon Bazivamo informed the House that non-authorized people enter into Serengeti National Park for poaching, hunting, cutting trees/firewood, grazing, fishing, cultivation and mining. Persons also traverse the parks collecting grass, medicine, honey, water and seeking refuge.
In Kenya, the Assembly was informed that proliferation of small arms and light weapons created an avenue for wildlife poaching.
Other documented challenges include inadequate man power (rangers), skills, equipment and transport as well as human settlement around key rhino and elephants’ areas.
During debate, Hon Martin Ngoga said Police in Rwanda recently intercepted ivory cargo transiting through the country and said further deficiencies in legislation on matters of poaching need to be effectively handled.
“We have to look into the shortcomings on legislations with a view to coming up with regional piece of legislation or strengthening those of Partner States,” the legislator said.
Hon Ngoga remarked that there was abundance of political will in resolving the poaching impasse but said such capacities need to be strengthened.