Environmental Technical Assistance

and Information Exchange Facility (TAIEF)

This project is financed by the European Union

Disclaimer

This summary has been written at the request of the Commission for the TAIEF project, based on information received from national partners

and the EU Member State Experts who undertook the mission. It does not represent the views of the EU Member States, or the Commission.

Tanzania, Expert Mission: “Study visit of EU CITES and wildlife experts on exports to the EU of elephant and lion trophies as well as other CITES-listed species”, 18-22 July 2016

INTRODUCTION

TAIEF’s support of this mission coincides with the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP17) in Johannesburg, South Africa (24/9 to 5/10/2016) - the largest CITES COP yet (over 2,500 delegates, at least 152 governments). The mission’s final report and recommendations will be submitted to the EU CITES Scientific Review Group in time for their meeting on 7/11/2016.

Special appreciation for the success of this mission is extended to:

Major General Gaudence S. Milanzi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, United Republic of Tanzania

Frederick A. Ligate, Senior Wildlife Officer – CITES desk, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Wildlife Division

Maria Chiara Femiano, Programme Officer-Climate Change and Environment, EU Delegation to Tanzania

Dr. Simon Mduma - Director General, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI)

Dr. Dennis Ikanda - Director, Kingupira Wildlife Research Centre, TAWIRI

Prof. Alexander Songorwa, Ag. Director of Wildlife, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism

Benson Kibonde, Former Manager Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania

Mr Robert Mande, Deputy Director of Anti-Poaching, Wildlife Division, MNRT

Mr Mabula Misungwi, outgoing Manager of the Selous Game Reserve, and his successor, Mr Henock H.Z. Msocha, who hosted the field trip

Community leaders of the NALIKA and JUKUMU Wildlife Management Areas and Tunduru District Council

Mr. Hernan Keraryo, Director General, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Wildlife Division

Mr. Martin Loibook, Ag. Director General, Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA)

Sincere thanks are also extended to the experts fielded by TAIEF:

Gerald Benyr, Austrian CITES Scientific Support Agency for Animals

Alison Prince, Senior Adviser, UK CITES Scientific Authority, Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Zoltán Czirák, Expert of Biodiversity, Hungarian CITES Scientific Authority, Ministry of Agriculture

Link: https://cites.org/cop17 , www.mnrt.go.tz, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/legislation_en.htm, http://ec.europa.eu/environment/cites/srg_en.htm, www.jncc.gov.uk, http://tawiri.or.tz/

Illegal poaching can be stopped by international collaboration

Tanzania has one of the largest populations of big game in Africa and a greater variety of wildlife than most other countries. Protecting its lions and elephants is a priority for Tanzania and safeguards large wilderness areas, thereby protecting habitat for many other endangered species. More than a quarter of Tanzania’s land is set aside for wildlife conservation and if well managed, the wildlife protected area network (233,300 km

2, or 28% of Tanzania's surface

area), has the potential for significant long-term benefits for wildlife conservation.

International engagement is vital because illegal poaching, financed by international criminal groups, poses an imminent threat to Tanzania’s wildlife, particularly for elephants. It has reduced elephant populations by 60% between 2009 and 2014 (110,000 to just over 43,000).

Anti-poaching Officers, Tunduru District

Large scale illegal poaching will stop once it becomes unprofitable for its financiers. This requires a comprehensive and internationally concerted effort, extending from

Mission Objectives: Draw on EU CITES expertise to investigate the sustainability of

trophy hunting of lions and elephants in Tanzania.

Environmental Technical Assistance

and Information Exchange Facility (TAIEF)

This project is financed by the European Union

Disclaimer

This summary has been written at the request of the Commission for the TAIEF project, based on information received from national partners

and the EU Member State Experts who undertook the mission. It does not represent the views of the EU Member States, or the Commission.

poachers to the complex networks involved in the transportation of goods out of the country (e.g. stakeholders engaged in falsifying documents, organizing transport, and paying off corrupt officials in the police, customs, and border control). Consistency in the anti-poaching effort is vital since gaps in regulatory controls are quickly exploited. Public and international concern bolster recognition and accountability for effective regulation.

Zoltán Czirák and Gerald Benyr with Nalika WMA representatives

Conservation of elephants is a long-term process, and recovery depends on consistent good management over the next 24 years. Good management also depends on engaging local communities, and linking their livelihoods to conservation efforts. The size and structure of the habitats requires local support in conducting population surveys and combatting poaching.

Trophy hunting is currently the subject of intense debate but if well regulated and if following recommendations for best practise, can play an important role in delivering benefits for both wildlife conservation and for the livelihood of indigenous and local communities. Tanzania’s wildlife conservation at the current time depends upon hunting, among other things for its long-term survival, because it increases the value of wildlife and the habitats it depends on. Revenue generated from hunting directly supports Tanzania’s management of its wildlife areas, including the newly established Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and their anti-poaching activities.

Without alternative forms of investment or economic incentives, bans on trophy exports could lead to hunting

blocks going vacant, which in turn could lead to reductions in habitat declared as protected areas. The risk of encroachment (human settlement, agriculture, cattle rearing) in the Selous Game Reserve is real and with that comes the potential for more human-wildlife conflicts and illegal killing. Tanzania’s rapidly increasing human population poses a growing demand for land reserved for wildlife protection.

Visit_to Selous Game Reserve_Matambwe

The mission resulted in a great exchange of information and ideas on conserving lion and elephant populations through effective governance and sustainable management approaches. Findings and recommendations will be submitted to the EU CITES Scientific Review Group in time for their meeting on 7 November 2016.

Meeting with hunting operators

FOLLOW-UP TAIEF SUPPORT

The following topics for continued EU collaboration were identified:

Population surveys: Currently stable population trends have a low predictive value. Hence, frequent surveys are an essential tool for the conservation of lions and elephants.

o A new census of the lion population in Katavi is needed as soon as possible to check the reported decline (Bauer et al 2016).

Environmental Technical Assistance

and Information Exchange Facility (TAIEF)

This project is financed by the European Union

Disclaimer

This summary has been written at the request of the Commission for the TAIEF project, based on information received from national partners

and the EU Member State Experts who undertook the mission. It does not represent the views of the EU Member States, or the Commission.

Responses: Evolving pressures require resolute responses and a fast adaptive management to combat local declines.

Transparency: To avoid future criticism, the Hunting Industry and Wildlife Division should ensure high levels of transparency.

Research: Undertake further research about the migration behaviour of elephants and its connection to the local poaching pressure.

CONTACT

Stakeholders interested in the short-term, peer-to-peer support offered through TAIEF are encouraged to visit our website or contact the TAIEF office (tel.+48 22 583 96 90; email: TAIEF@niras.com)