Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply |
One of Us |
Good luck to The Tashinga Initiative Trust (Lower Zambezi Valley including Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore areas) and the other NGO's associated with this CITES initiative. Also, a big shout out to the European Union (funding) and the MIKE program staff (implementation). *** PRESS RELEASE (July 14, 2016) CITES to Provide Targeted Support for Critical Wildlife Areas in Africa CITES to strengthen protection in three critical regions to tackle illegal killing and trafficking of wildlife Geneva/Nairobi, 14 July 2016 - CITES has signed agreements to build law enforcement capacity to reduce the illegal killing and trafficking of wildlife in three critical areas in Southern, Eastern and Central Africa. The agreements cover the Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Zimbabwe; the Dzanga Sangha Protected Area Complex in the Central African Republic (CAR); part of the Trinational de la Sangha World Heritage Site; and Queen Elizabeth National Park, part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Uganda. These targeted interventions are funded by the European Union through the CITES Minimizing the Illegal Killing of Elephants and other Endangered Species (MIKES) project. The areas were prioritized for action based on detailed assessments of existing law enforcement capacity conducted by the CITES Programme for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE), as well as on their importance for elephant conservation, the co-occurrence of other key CITES-listed species, and the level of poaching and other threats impacting each site. Site specific packages of activities have been developed by the MIKE Programme staff in close collaboration with site-based management and senior field-based staff in order to ensure that the support meets the specific needs of each area, and complements existing capacity and resources. Following the signing of the three agreements John E. Scanlon, the Secretary-General of CITES, said, “These three well-targeted interventions were designed drawing upon the best local knowledge available to reduce illegal wildlife trade at its source. We are pleased to be able to provide such focused support and to be working directly with national wildlife agencies, and local and international NGOs in pursuit of our common conservation goals. We look forward to extending such support to additional areas in the near future”. He expressed his sincere thanks for the funds provided by the European Union for the MIKES project, noting that further support packages are being developed for seven more areas in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The Queen Elizabeth project (Uganda), which will be implemented by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, includes support for training rangers and equipping them with patrol and communications equipment; developing and implementing a law enforcement strategy; strengthening in the use of intelligence, investigations and prosecutions; and enhancing the use of law enforcement monitoring systems to inform protected area management. The Dzanga-Sangha Project (CAR), is to be implemented by the World Wildlife Fund in close collaboration with authorities from the Central African Republic. It aims to strengthen patrol operations, equipment and capacity for conducting special enforcement operations and in particular, building collaboration with other law enforcement agencies involved in combating wildlife crime around the protected area. The Mana Pools, Chewore and Sapi project (Zimbabwe), will be implemented by the Tashinga Initiative Trust in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. It also aims to strengthen patrol operations by training and equipping rangers; enhancing law enforcement operations, coordination and monitoring across the three individual areas that make up the World Heritage Site; and enhancing collaboration with local communities in law enforcement. *** Welcome to the new Southern Africa where no good deed goes unpunished! DSC Life Member HSC Life Member NRA Life Member SCI RMEF | ||
|
Powered by Social Strata |
Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia