PATROL - VOLUME 26
Sizable Portions – Who's Really Eating Away at African Conservation Efforts? - By Hank's Voice
On 25 January 2024, the Belgian Parliament voted to prohibit the importation of legally obtained hunting trophies from threatened and endangered species, claiming some of them could be further imperiled unless trade is limited.
They, along with Humane Society International (HSI) and other anti-hunting/anti-sustainable use/animal rights organizations, hailed this decision as a monumental triumph for wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
The executive director of HSI/Europe even bragged, "With this decision, Belgium positions itself as a leader in protecting biodiversity and endangered species." Bravely marching on to "save" wildlife, they will try coercing France next, and other European Union (EU) countries, ultimately, to adopt similar bans.
Keeping The Poachers Out: Moyowosi Game Reserve, Tanzania (5-minute Video)
The Moyowosi Game Controlled area was declared a game reserve in 1981 and covers an area of some 11,430 km2. It was named after the river that flows through the Reserve. The name originated from “Muyovozi”, which means “a huge river which flows throughout the year and is difficult to cross” in the language of the Ha tribe.
The Reserve is in the Kibondo and Kakonko Districts within the Kigoma region in the western part of Tanzania and forms part of the Ugalla – Moyowosi/Kigosi-Malagarasi ecosystem. The area was declared a Ramsar Convention Site, the first to be proclaimed in Tanzania and the third largest in the world.
Timber Production in Africa
A key challenge for African timber supply is the rapid forest degradation and destruction. Illegal, unsustainable timber poaching and charcoal production are the root of the problem.
The FAO reported that Africa has lost 3.6 million hectares of forests annually in the last ten years. There is a need for more effective management of forests to address this decline and ensure a sustainable supply of timber in the future.
Various initiatives are underway across the continent to address the sustainable management of forests. They will require firm policy and legislative reform and backing to achieve their goals.
Motorbikes In Anti-Poaching (5-minute Video)
Deciding where to allocate the funds in an anti-poaching budget is always tricky. Every part of the operation requires money and prioritizing is essential.
Transportation is key, and motorbikes are a central part of any operation, but several alternatives exist. Mark Haldane from Zambeze Delta Safaris and his anti-poaching manager, Mfana Xaba, explain the rationale behind the various motorbikes they use in the field.
Results sometimes trump costs.
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