TAWIRI directed to prepare hunting blocks report


CHARLES KIZIGHA, 22nd February 2009 @ 09:39

Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) has been directed to prepare a detailed evaluation report on hunting blocks aimed at solving controversies surrounding the industry and present it to the government by July this year.

The report is intended to be used as a working document for relevant government officials to keep them in the know when contemplating to embark on the exercise of allocating hunting blocks afresh.Investigations conducted by the 'Daily News' in Arusha recently have shown that TAWIRI needs between two and three years to come up with a report which would enable the government to solve controversies surrounding hunting blocks.

An expert said that it takes at least three days to get necessary details from one block by using an aircraft, meaning that the time given to TAWIRI is too short to produce a sound report.
"So, for aerial work on 159 blocks experts require some 477 days continuously. The days do not include other areas of data interpretation leave alone the behaviour of the animals," said the expert.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism assigned TAWIRI to come up with accurate mapping and digitalization of hunting blocks.The institute was tasked to carry out an evaluation of the blocks which involved economic hunting, distribution and density of animals in every block.

TAWIRI was further directed to make an assessment of hunting quarter and sustainability and economic value in hunting blocks.Investigations further showed that Initially TAWIRI was required to complete the assignment and present the report at the end of November, last year.

The institute was allocated 600m/- by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism last year and started the assignment in August. Sources said last week that TAWIRI presented a preliminary report in November and around 50 per cent only of the 600m/- has been received by the Institute which presented a preliminary report in November.

Tanzania has a total 159 hunting blocks, some of them are as big as over 4,000 square metres. Out of the total 67 are owned by Tanzanians, 60 by foreigners and 32 are in joint venture (locals and foreigners).The preliminary report proposed that out of the 159 hunting blocks, 45 would be sub-divided into two blocks. If implemented, the number of hunting blocks would increase to 204.

Sources said that TAWIRI would classify the hunting block into four grades on the basis economic value, sustainability and other factors. The classification would start from A to D. Class D would entail blocks which are not appropriate for hunting. The blocks would be allocated to companies who will be able to place the areas under rehabilitation for five years.

Last month the National Assembly revoked a three-year extension for the hunting term given to the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) that was scheduled to end in 2012.
There will now be a two-year transition period (2009-2010), allowing tourist hunting to start in 2011, under new hunting regulations after amendments of the Wildlife Conservation Act (2008).

Revocation of the hunting term that was given to hunting companies through TAHOA was given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism following a private motion tabled by Kwela legislator, Mr Chrisant Mzindakaya, stating that the minister had contravened parliamentary resolutions on the issue.

Why can't they just leave the hunting industry alone for a while!! Only politicians know how to screw up a good thing........