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Throw the dragnet on other natural resources
2006-02-21 08:54:26
By Freddy Macha
The Ministry of Natural Resources has recently taken measures to halt illegal harvesting of natural forests and related trade in forest products.
The measures include suspension of all licences and documents that allow individuals and companies to trade in products like charcoal, poles, timber, firewood and logs.
In taking the measures, the government aims at reviewing the existing regulations governing harvesting and trading in the products.
This was after the government realized that there were irregularities in the business which led to the plundering of the forests.
The scenario thus defeated the whole policy of sustainable consumption of natural resources.
What is worse, only a few well-to-do people benefited from these resources, leaving communities who actually conserve and protect the resources, poor.
Of course the government’s move has been received with a huge outcry from the public, with some quarters putting forward reasonable and genuine arguments.
Charcoal users, for example, who form the majority of urban dwellers, have raised concern on the scarcity of the commodity and the spiraling of the prices.
However, the suspension imposed by the government is a temporary measure and would be lifted once a new system of licensing is put in place.
But in the meantime, we would like to urge the government to throw the dragnet further afield.
Trade in forest products is not the only one that is being conducted illegally. Other natural resources are equally being plundered and traded illegally. Environmental crime is becoming common in the country now.
Recently, it was reported that four elephants were killed by suspected poachers in the Selous Game Reserve in Lindi.
The irony is that one of the six suspected poachers was himself a game warden in the reserve. This casts doubt on the diligence of those who have been assigned the duty of protecting the wildlife.
The Lindi incident is not an isolated case of poaching, particularly in the game reserves.
Further more, animals other than elephants might be killed in large numbers both for their meat and trophies. The situation needs to be arrested.
We are not saying game wardens should be relived of their duties. What we are suggesting is that the government should review how game wardens execute their duties. The aim should be to plug any loopholes that give room to poachers to kill our wildlife.
The government could go further and suspend issuance of licences to tourist hunting companies.
There have been cases where some companies have abused their licences, by killing animals that are not listed in their permits. The system of issuing permits to these companies should also be reviewed.
The move to conserve and protect natural resources should involve all aspects and not only forests.
Ensuring sustainable harvesting of natural resources would go a long way to combat environmental crime.
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