Lecture by Hon. Lazaro Nyalandu at the University ofCambridge
The University ofCambridge Wildlife Conservation Society, Kings College,
Cambridge, UK
12/6/2015
The University ofCambridge Wildlife Conservation Society, Kings College,
Cambridge, UK
12/6/2015
Conservation in Tanzania
Unlike any country inthe continent of Africa, Tanzania has set aside about 30% of her land dedicated to conservation of wildlifeand these assets are administered throughelaborate systems of governance. The Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), comprising of about 16 National Parks covering anarea of 57,000 sq. km of landmass, the NgorongoroConservation Area Authority (NCAA) comprising 8,500 sq. km, a unique World Heritage Site since 1979, and a placewhere the Maasai community live in harmony with the wildlife, and the newest body which Ihad a privilege to sign into law, The Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA)comprising of some 115,000 sq. km of landmass, which hasnow taken over from the former Division of Wildlife, and will be administered byan independent Board and the Director General of Wildlife.Let there be no mistake,the global state of conservation has never been more uncertain. In Africatoday we face a continued decline of wildlife species and notably the continue decline ofelephants population, also known as the genus Loxodontha -the world's largest landanimals, chiefly due to illegal ivory trade.On June 1st, 2016, Iannounced to the world, the newest elephant census as provided for by the TanzaniaWildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), and theVulcan, Inc. These three agencies teamed up in May 2014 and carried out the latestTanzania Elephant survey in order to give an estimate of the elephant numbers in thecontinent's leading conservation nation. The survey indicated an overall decline ofelephant population to 41,000 countrywide, while showing some significantincrease of numbers of elephants in some ecosystems well above scientific birthdate, and somedecline in Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem without witnessing
caucuses, a trend that would now require ajoint validation and re survey, as some elephants are said to have possibly movedfrom one place to the other.
To shed light to thisthe finding, Selous Game Reserve, the world's largest single conserved area (55,000 sq. km), roughly the size of Belgium, had seen a seriousdecline from known 55,000 elephants in 2009 survey to 13,000 in 2013 survey. A year later, when we madea survey in 2014, and obviously after a great deal of local as well as internationalactive involvement in a comprehensive strategy to fighting poaching, the Selous isnow on the upward trend with latest survey showing a marginal increase to 15,200 in 2014.The Serengeti NationalPark, which is the world Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve saw an impressive 98%increase of elephant population up from 3,068 in 2009 to 6,087 in 2014. It is notpossible to prove scientifically that the increase is purely on birthdate, hence othertheory come to play including a possibility that some elephants moved from some otherless secured areas into the Serengeti, which is one of the best protected area in Africa.Tarangire-Manyaraecosystem has seen an increase of 64%, from 2,561 elephants in 2009 to 4,202 in2014 survey.
The survey could notestablish the whereabouts of some 10,000 elephants in Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem whereby it was estimated thatthere were 20,000 elephants in 2009 surveyand there were only 8,500 seen in 2014, hence the need for validation throughanother survey later in 2015 during dry season.
What are the key driversfor successful conservation?
People and CommunityParticipation
We have embarked on amodel of Wildlife Management Areas-WMAs, which have seen communities aroundconserved areas actively engage in conservation, and sustainable utilizationof wildlife products in Tanzania. Previously supported by the Tanzaniagovernment and the USAID, the WMAs such as Ikoma Grumet have been successful both infinancial viability as well as conservation. Community led intelligence have helpedgovernment efforts in fighting against poachers in these areas.Boots on the ground
No matter what is saidand done, nothing replaces men and women in uniform dedicated to protectingthe wildlife in Tanzania. We have increased two folds the number of game rangersto address the challenges of the moment with Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem being seen theepicenter of the poaching crisis in Tanzania and hence the central target forour actions.
Embracing technology in battles against poaching
From the experiment andeventual use of drones, application of state of the art digital VHF communications, anduse of tablets with GPS in plant by game rangers, we have witnessed Tanzania beingahead of the game on the fighting line against poachers. The increasing use ofspecial planes, helicopters, as well as different kinds of vehicles on the battleground ischanging the dynamics of the war against poaching.
Since embarking of thehigh gear to defeat poaching, our government under the leadership of PresidentDr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has worked closely with our development partners toaddress this common problem. We believe in transparency, and resolve to sustainour advantage on the war against poaching. The UNDP, Germany, UK, US, China,and the World Bank have been leading partners for Tanzania's ant poaching efforts.
Stopping the Ivory Trade
Since the London Conference in February 2014,President Dr. Jakaya Kikwete announced to theworld that Tanzania would put her Ivory Stockpile beyond economic use. The country also joined the AfricanElephant Protection Initiative togetherwith Botswana, Gabon, Chad, and Ethiopia under the leadership of the Great Britain to coordinate African efforts in frontlinestates on war against poaching.Further to our following through to the London Conference commitment, Tanzania moved to work with the UK governmentthrough an agreement with Stop Ivory,a UK charity, which saw our country work with the experts, including CITES to secure Africa's largest Ivory Stockpile inTanzania.
Infra Africa Cooperation
In November 2014,Tanzania hosted an African regional summit with 11 countries present to discuss anddeliberate on actions needed to combating and stopping wildlife crime. With active participation fromthe World Bank, EU, US, Britain, AfricaDevelopment Bank, China, France, Germany, and the 11 African countries (namely Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda,South Sudan, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique,South Africa, and Congo DRC), the countries agreed on additional measures to working together to stop wildlifecrimes.
Tanzania-MozambiqueSelous-Niassa Agreement
Following the Arusharegional summit, international efforts were brought in to help Tanzania and Mozambiqueput in place an agreement to protect the world's largest wildlife ecosystem,covering an average of over 110,000 sq. km of land mass. This agreement was finallysigned in May 2015, and it is one of the most significant conservation achievementsof this decade, as it will assure the survival of elephants in the years to come acrossborders.
Tanzania-Kenya sharedecosystem of Serengeti-Mara
Based on 2014 elephantsurvey date, the ecosystem has successful seen an increase of 98% of elephantpopulation from 2009 to 2014 as alluded above. The joint efforts including intelligencesharing between TANAPA and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) show success in crossborder conservation collaboration. Elephants know no borders and the Serengeti-Marawildebeest migration is a testament of the world's most iconic annual free movement ofwildlife from one country to the other.
Law enforcement coordination
The role of research andwildlife associations world wide
Groups such as theCambridge University Wildlife Conservation Society have a special role to play inthe conservation of Africa's flora and fauna today and in the future. Continuously,research focusing on animal behavior, communicable diseases among livestock andwildlife, call for dedication of researchers to help inform decisions on sustainableconservation.
Conservation and development
In the end, everysuccessful and sustainable conservation model will have to address the issue of people'sdevelopment challenges in the context of protecting wildlife for tourism and otherrelated utilization of wildlife. It is imperative that researchers continue to look at bestpractices upon which communities are able to see the benefit of conservation in theirbackyards for the world to succeed in conserving the wildlife heritage.
