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DC MUFINDI HAILS WAGA WMA FOR REDUCING POACHING IN THE AREA

CWMAs coordinator from the WCS organization Anna Kimambo (R) explains some during build capacity workshop in governance and leadership to members of Community Wildlife Management Area (WAGA) yesterday organized Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). To her right handside is Chesco Moto evaluation and monitoring specialist and Mufindi district commissioner Jamhuri William (PHOTO BY FRIDAY SIMBAYA)

By Friday Simbaya, Mbarali 

The Mufindi district commissioner Jamhuri William has thumped up the work done Community Wildlife Management Area (CWMA) in the country because they help to reduce problem of poaching in national parks and game reserves. 

He noted that participatory conservation is essential in protecting wildlife resources and natural resources against the illegal hunting and environmental degradation. 

DC William said this recently when he was opening training for members of the Community Wildlife Management Area (WAGA) that aims to build capacity in governance and leadership issues yesterday, organized Wildlife Conservation Society (WSC). 

He said that the ability to reduce illegal practices in the surrounding parks and game reserve areas it is because of participatory conservation so that citizens in these areas cooperate with the government to protect the wildlife and forest resources together. 

He said that without a collaborative plan in conservation it would increase actions of poaching along the parks, since the poachers and environmental destroyers are emerging from communities. 

DC said the tourism industry is one of the industries that contribute to national income through tourists and researchers who come to do their research in national parks and game reserves. 

At the same time, the district commissioner has banned the export of livestock without movement permits from livestock officers. 

DC William added that the shipment animal was not done according the law but instead they (livestock keepers) were walking with thousands animals on foot during the night passing through farmers fields. 

He said that there has been a large number of livestock trafficking from one place to the other by walking with large herds of nightlife that accompanies bad practices as well as environmental damage. 

He said that there was also the practice of pastoralists to transfer their livestock to farmers' fields while transporting livestock during the night and eventually causing conflict between farmers and animal keepers. 

CWMAs coordinator from the WCS organization Anna Kimabo said Waga CWMA is covering an area of ​​315 square kilometers, representing land that has been put aside for conservation by five villages from three districts. 

She said that the villages that compile WAGA include Nyakadete and Nyamakuyu in Mbarali District, Mbeya region, Igomaa and Ihanzutwa in Mufindi District and Mahuninga in Iringa District, Iringa region respectively. 

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is being supported by USAID to carry out its work through Southern Highlands and the Ruaha-Katavi Protection Program agreement which has played a leading role in the establishment of many other CWMAs in the country, "said Kimambo. 

According to her, participatory conservation was vital because it will reduce the invasion of protected areas by villagers for pasturing livestock, agriculture, mining and human settlements. 

"In the end, we will see the burning and deforestation acts that cause environmental damage, including the destruction of water sources will come to an end," she said. 

Kimambo said the establishment of CWMAs will greatly help reduce poaching in the area noting however the government should be in the forefront in wildlife conservation. 

"The government should continue to build awareness and motivate the public and other stakeholders involved in wildlife management to rescue endangered wildlife such as elephants, rhinos and others," she said. 

On the other hand, the Gelvas Choga who is a WAGA member from the village of Ihanzutwa said that the existence of a community based wildlife conservation areas will diminish the problems of the encroaching by villagers into national parks and environmental degradation. 

Choga said that they as a community would help ensure wildlife in the area were fully protected by the village game scouts (VGS) in collaboration with the whole community. 

He said that his village would also benefit from waga revenue after investors invest in their area as they will be reformed social services such as schools, water, clinics and roads in the village through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. 

On her part, Mufindi District wildlife Officer, Rachael Nambo has thanked the WCS organization to support the government's efforts to protect and manage wildlife and forestry resources. 

She said that the collaborative conservation will reduce the practice of illegal hunting and environmental degradation and water sources as the community would be fully involved. 

Nambo also emphasized that wildlife management area should not be used as the main gateway for illegal hunting. 

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