Germany supports Tanzania to fight wildlife-human conflicts -

By STAFF REPORTER, Ruvuma

THE Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in cooperation with GIZ Tanzania have introduced a strategic project to solve challenges of wildlife-human conflicts in Lindi and Ruvuma region.

The project surfaces in a wake of increasing cases of human-wildlife conflicts in the two regions, the unwelcoming development which have so far propelled to diverse socioeconomic loss.

Speaking during the project’s tailor- made inception workshop, held in Ruvuma region over the weekend, Ruvuma Regional Commissioner (RC) Cornel Laban Thomas observed that wildlife-human conflicts have become rampant in the Ruvuma Zone, especially in Namtumbo and Tunduru, as well as in Liwale district of Lindi region.

“These conflicts endanger the lives of citizens and their properties together with food security. For example, in one year alone of 2022/2023, the fierce and destructive wildlife have caused the destruction of approximately 1,0724.05 acres of various crops,” he detailed.

Apart from hailing the government of Germany for supporting the parent ministry in the initiative, he sounded to have remain optimistic that the robust project will help to eliminate the intolerable human menace in the prone areas.

Speaking on behalf of the Director of the Department of Wildlife, Antonia Raphael expressed that introduction of the project was part of series of efforts being undertaken by the government to curtail a negative spate of wildlife-human conflicts across the country.

For his side, the Director of Program from GIZ, Jens Bruggemann said they’ will continue to cooperating with the government of Tanzania in the war against wildlife-human conflicts.

“The goal is to protect both, the wildlife and the communities that are dwelling in areas prone to wildlife intrusion, ” he stated.

Implementation of the timely initiative is a fruitful result of mutual understanding and longstanding bilateral cooperation between the government of Germany and Tanzania.

As per the project’s design, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism will implement the project in cooperation with GIZ Tanzania, whereby there will be other partners, including the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA), the Tanzania Forestry Services (TFS ), the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI).

Currently, the government is increasingly implementing the national strategy for the management of human-wildlife conflicts and important actors are helping to improve the coexistence between people and wildlife.

Among others, the on-going strategy incorporate a special work to identify, restore and help to protect the wildlife corridors accross the country.

The plan meant to curtail a spate of encroachment of human activities in the historical wildlife corridors, especially for agriculture and livestock grazing purposes.

During last year, the government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism tasked the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) to make a special survey over the number and state of the wildlife corridors across the country.

The survey managed to record a total of 61 wildlife corridors in the country, whereby at least 20 corridors were considered for major improvement and protection due to their ecological, economical, political as well as tourism potential.