The Board of Directors of the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment and strengthening wildlife management to reduce and prevent the effects of conflicts between humans and dangerous wildlife.
The relevant instructions were given in the Morogoro region by the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Ashatu Kijaji, during a meeting with the TAWA leadership. In addition, through the Board of Directors, Kijaji instructed the Nature Conservation Commissioners to properly monitor conservation areas and stop human activities, including farming, grazing, and housing construction near or inside protected areas, in order to prevent conflicts and damage caused by wild animals.
In the context of the poaching problem, the Minister insisted on creating effective public awareness programs, involving the population in nature protection as full partners, which contributes to the development of environmental projects and the reduction of poaching. The President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, aims to ensure a high quality of life for citizens by 2030 and create conditions for the use of national natural resources. «In order to successfully resolve the contradictions between man and nature, it is necessary to develop strategic plans of an urgent, medium and long-term nature», Dr. Kijaji emphasized.
Regarding financial revenues, the Minister acknowledged the positive results of TAWA's activities, but pointed out the need to strengthen work through the optimization of wildlife management. She obliged the council to set specific, achievable goals to combat illegal wildlife harvesting and develop understandable mechanisms to achieve them. She also stressed the importance of preserving reserves and studying existing problems, such as unauthorized entry into protected lands, in order to take adequate measures.
As for relations with the population, Kijaji called on nature protection inspectors to build constructive cooperation with local communities, showing friendliness and professionalism, which will facilitate the solution of environmental problems. She also congratulated them on their investment successes and encouraged them to continue the proper management of investment areas and all Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).
Addressing the Minister, Hassan Abbas, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, noted that the TAWA Council continues to effectively fulfill its core responsibilities. In turn, the chairman of the TAWA Council, Major General Semfuko, said that the council will continue to implement government directives, ensuring enhanced management of wildlife resources and effective achievement of set goals.
