Zimbabwe on Wednesday marked World Wildlife Day, signalling urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human induced reduction of species.
The country’s wildlife heritage continues to face threats which include poaching, illegal wildlife trade, over-exploitation, illegal mining and habitat loss largely due to land development, agriculture, global warming and invasive species.
“Over 8400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered while close to 30 000 more are vulnerable,” Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism & Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu said during belated celebrations of a day that takes places globally on March 3 to raise awareness of endangered animals and plants.
“Based on these estimates, it is suggested that over a million species are threatened with extinction and action needs to be taken now,” he continued.
“In Zimbabwe, one of the greatest biodiversity threats to wildlife areas comes from large elephant populations which are destroying or simplifying the ecosystems hence causing ecological slums,” Ndlovu said.
Turning to conservation efforts, the Cabinet minister said Zimbabwe was yet to fully benefit from a huge population of elephants due to various restrictions on global ivory trade.
“We will therefore continue to work with like-minded nations to push for decisions that promote the growth of animal species. We also call for CITES to make science based decisions than populist decisions whose long term effects threaten the same species the instituition is meant to protect,” Ndlovu said.
Several institutions currently play significant roles in wildlife conservation. These include the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Academic Institutions, Judicial Service Commission, National Prosecution Authority, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), Immigration Department, Zimbabwe Defence Forces, International and Local NGOs.
On the financial front, cooperating partners help fund Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts through multi-lateral institutions, including the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
“A lot has been done collaboratively, capacity building in law enforcement for both Zimparks and a number of Rural District Councils. Vehicles and equipment have been secured, various training programmes have been conducted especially in the Zambezi Valley as part of species and habitat conservation. For that we say thank you,” Ndlovu said.
The minister said Zimbabwe is committed to wildlife conservation and over 26% of Zimbabwe’s land is designated as “protected land.”
Of the 26%, Zimbabwe’s network of protected areas (National Parks, Safari Areas, Recreational Parks, Sanctuaries, Botanical gardens and Botanical Reserves) comprise about 13%, and that naturally takes a center stage in biodiversity conservation.
“I am pleased to note that school children are partaking in these conservation programmes,” Ndlovu said.
“The fact that the younger generations are engaged in these discussions gives me hope that the legacy of astute conservation in Zimbabwe, we inherited from our fore-fathers, will be passed on to future. I can assure you ladies and gentlemen that this strategy is working and l urge you to continue sensitizing the public about our wildlife resources at all levels, taking a multisectoral approach.”
The World Wildlife Day was commemorated under the theme “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”.
The country is part of the international conservation community through its membership to various Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
These include such Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), to mention just a few key treaties.
Zimbabwe’s economy is significantly driven by tourism which in is anchored by the country’s rich wildlife populations.
