DAR ES SALAAM: Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministers will meet in Tanzania next week to discuss a regional anti-poaching drive, an official said on Thursday.
Constantine Kanyasu, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, said in a statement that the meeting to be attended by ministers responsible for natural resources, tourism and environment will review progress made on anti-poaching in the 16-member countries of the regional bloc.
“Tanzania is among SADC countries implementing the SADC Law Enforcement and Anti-poaching,” said Kanyasu, adding that the east African nation’s anti-poaching drive has realized tremendous achievements toward ending the poaching of elephants.
Without giving figures, the official said poaching in the country’s 19 national parks was now under control.
Robert Mande, the Assistant Director In-charge of the National Anti-poaching Unit in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, said in July this year that poaching of elephants had been reduced from 193 per year in 2013 to 19 in 2018 and that the animals’ population was now increasing.
Kanyasu said the meeting to be held in Tanzania’s safari capital of Arusha from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25 will also address conservation across SADC member states focusing on forestry, fisheries, environment and climate change and tourism.
The official added that the meeting will also review the SADC Strategy on Blue Economy that focuses on the exploitation and preservation of the marine environment.
According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.