How JET, USAID – led debate pushes for wildlife corridors restorations

THIS week, the issues related to wildlife movement corridors restoration and why co-existence between wildlife and human is inevitable, have been on the forefront among wildlife stakeholders.

This did not come like a bolt from the blue, but after a carefully designed and well-participated live debate on implementation of the USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Preserve Natural Resources) project, that was coordinated by the Journalists’ Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET).

It brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government as well as its members at the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) studio located at Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam.

The goal of USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili project is to address dynamics that hinder habitat connectivity and the long-term persistence of biodiversity in Tanzania. This activity incorporates a series of interventions that support and strengthen government and civil society.

Also read: JET trains journalists on combating wildlife crimes reporting

USAID is the United States Agency for International Development. On cards also is capacity for biodiversity conservation in a manner that increases private sector engagement in conservation and natural resource management (NRM); builds the capacity of the public sector and civil society; and strengthens the policy and regulatory framework for conservation and NRM.

What transpired during the live debate?

A lot of areas were covered by two main presenters, to wit, Dr Fortunata Msoffe, the Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and Hawa Mwechaga, who is the Chief Wildlife Officer and Coordinator of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change in the President’s Office (Regional Administrations and Local Government).

Dr Msoffe noted that they manage wildlife as well as tourism, adding that the country is rich with 21 national parks, whereby several activities take place, such as sightseeing, photographing, filming and boating tourism. She spoke of what they have under the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA), such as game reserves.

It should be noted that TAWA was established as a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, in line with Section 8 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2009 (Cap 283). That was through a Government Notice No. 135 published on 9th May 2014, that became operational on the 1st July of 2016 with core responsibilities of biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of wildlife resources outside Tanzania National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

“We have game reserves under TAWA, with different activities, hunting on permit, included. We know that Ngorongoro is a world heritage site, with things like Olduvai Gorge and others,” said Dr Msoffe as she was madding her point towards wildlife corridors, their blockage and consequent restoration plans.

The way it is, it entails managing a total area of 136,287.06 km2, comprising of Game Reserves, Game Controlled Areas, Ramsar site and Open areas. In addition, TAWA oversees the management of wildlife in captivity (farms, zoos, ranches, sanctuaries, orphanage centres and Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

She noted that all the mentioned areas save well for the wellbeing of wildlife, acting as shelters, composing the much-needed ecosystem, with landscapes and wildlife corridors.

Dr Msoffe noted that the way forward is for the government to officially recognise all the wildlife corridors, and together with stakeholders safeguard them through different means.

She said that USAID came with a work plan to 20 corridors and that some of the already renewed and recognised corridors as Udzungwa – Nyerere national parks and Kwakuchinja that connects Manyara and Tarangire national parks, with animals moving from one place to another and back.

She noted that there are human activities around and efforts are afoot to see a peaceful coexistence, emphasising that the ministry was working hard on that.

Dr Msoffe noted that the Ministry was working hard to coordinate conservation activities countrywide, adding that more than 55 per cent of the wildlife are in or near villagers.

She noted that coexistence of people and wildlife is vital, with the country now boasting of having 154 forests under district councils that benefit both people and wildlife.

“We are working with the Ministry of Land, Housing and Human Settlements, Ministry of Livestock and other stakeholders to see sustainability in agriculture and livestock keeping, while ensuring prosperity of wildlife. We are duty-bound to safeguard wildlife and protect the village forests. We link the people with stakeholders such as USAID.

TAMISEMI works with stakeholders to see how to conserve the environment. We prepare strategies for villagers to understand what elephant is, how to benefit from the wildlife corridors. “TAMISEMI is a coordinator of many teams.

For example, many people now talk of carbon trade and corridors, that is our work to coordinate and if all is done well, there is no reason for our people to be in poverty.

They, under village leaderships can work on this and make a lot of money through different activities such as photo tourism. We go along very well with USAID,” she said.

She touched of village best practices, WMAs, and said many people go and learn from Tanganyika District, where villagers have been making millions of shillings from carbon trade.

She noted that there is a need to go hand in hand with villagers and increase budgets for them. She noted that there have been important plans to manage WMA, working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) TAMISEMI work for WMAs to get necessary documents needed for different activities, such as good land use.

As for Mwechaga, she noted that elephants are an opportunity and there is a need for citizens to be educated about it in order to be ready to protect the elephants productively.

She said that although some people see elephants as a challenge, they are opportunities and that people must make sure they move away from the corridors the jumbos have been used for many years, because staying at the same is for the people’s disadvantage.

“Citizens should know that the elephants are an opportunity, the elephant should not be an enemy, we should explain this issue to the citizens, if they understand this, it is easier for them to participate in the protection of the elephant,” she said. She noted that citizens should take part in protecting the corridors instead of running their activities or putting up buildings on such areas, something she said is dangerous to both the wildlife and people.

Ms Mwechaga said the ministry’s duty is to guarantee that villagers benefit from the resources and take care of them. She said the government is presently capitalising on carbon trade and that the income is directed to development projects in the villages.

“There are villages that are doing well and earn a lot of money. Tanganyika District for instance has eight villages which are set to receive 14bn/-. Through forest conservation, 250 people have got jobs and health insurance cover,” she said.

Ms Mwechaga unveiled the fact that more than 50 per cent of forests in the country are under the President’s Office, Regional Administrations and Local Government.

Of the number, 21 million hectares are at village level and 3.5 million hectares at district level. JET Executive Director, Mr John Chikomo, said his association cooperates with environmental stakeholders to ensure safeguarding of the corridors all over the country.

He noted that in over 30 years of its existence, JET has worked well with the government and other stakeholders, such as USAID.

In such collaboration, he said, JET has been able to reach over 30 million people through direct contact in villages, while implementing projects and media.

JET is actively involved in the media coverage and community engagement on issues of environment and sustainable development, with the aim of raising public awareness on environmental conservation and related challenges.

Mr Chikomo noted that its means of engagement is mainly through conventional and social media. It has members from all media outlets, such as radio, print, television, blogs, and other electronic media channels.

The USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili project supports efforts to secure, protect, and sustain wildlife movement corridors in Tanzania.

To ensure sustainable use of natural resources, the project also promotes and supports initiatives that improve sustainable livelihood options among communities coexisting with wildlife in wildlife movement corridors.