Tanzania: Firm Action Needed to Protect Wildlife


Editorial

Though endowed with abundant natural resources, Tanzania is facing a great challenge in nature conservation for posterity. Rampant tree cutting and game poaching are causing tremendous destruction of the country's natural wealth. Desertification is slowly creeping in as rainfall decreases in some areas and the weather pattern becomes unpredictable.

Statistics of the wildlife population are not up-to-date but cases of illegal hunting indicate that certain species of wildlife in game reserves are endangered and, if action is not taken now to protect them, they could be extinct in the coming few years.

The apparent danger is that future generations in Tanzania would never enjoy the same sight of abundant resources if the current trend of mismanagement of the resources persists.

Sustainability of the country's tourism industry cannot be guaranteed without making extra efforts now to protect our natural heritage. Authorities need to adopt a no-nonsense approach in enforcing conservation of the environment, particularly the wildlife habitat and natural vegetation.

Participatory programmes that allow communities adjacent to game reserves to take part in the management of those areas should be strengthened. But these programmes will have no impact on game protection if these communities see no tangible benefit from the role they play.

Tanzania's wildlife is a unique natural heritage and its proper utilisation should keep it as a source of increased earnings through game viewing, tourist hunting and game trophies.