UN HAILS SPANEST OVER ANTI - POACHING OF ELEPHANTS

The strengthening the protected areas network in southern Tanzania (SPANEST), Project Coordinator Godwell Ole Meng’ataki making a presentation today at SaiVilla Lodge in Iringa.

The acting Iringa regional commissioner, Adam Swai stressed a point to the visiting UN Resident Coordinator of the UN system, Alvaro Rodriguez during the meeting today.

The UN Tanzania Resident Coordinator of the UN system, Alvaro Rodriguez listening to the presentation from SPANEST Project Coordinator Godwell Ole Meng’ataki not in picture during the meeting today.

Group photograph

The UN Tanzania Communications Specialist, Hoyce Temu (left)stressed a point after the SPANEST Project Coordinator Godwell Ole Meng’ataki finished presenting during the meeting today, well the representative from TANAPA Risala Kabogo listening to her.

The UNDP Programme Associate Environmental and Natural Resources, Gemma Aliti to MBOMIPA is listening to the Secretary Josephat Kisanyage not in the picture during the meeting today.

A Wildlife Management Area (WMA)MBOMIPA Chairman, Philip Mkumbata shakes hands with the UN Tanzania Resident Coordinator of the UN system, Alvaro Rodriguez (right) after giving his report.

From left is MBOMIPA Chairman Philip Mkumbata, Zawadi Gembe (Mjumbe-MBOMIPA)and MBOMIPA Secretary Josphat Kisanyage presenting their reports respectively during the meeting today.

In the battle of fighting against elephant poaching in Ruaha National Park, SPANEST has started radio collaring and monitoring of 30 elephants, it has been learnt.

The strengthening the protected areas network in southern Tanzania (SPANEST), Project Coordinator Godwell Ole Meng’ataki said the radio collaring and monitoring of elephants by putting devices around their neck of the female elephant leaders will curb illegal hunting.

"As you know that every group of elephants has a leader which is mostly female elephant, so device will be put around the neck of leader hence making ease to locate them wherever they will be.." he said.

He stressed that the coming of SPANEST project in Ruaha National Park has seen elephant the decrease in poaching incidences whereby a total of 36 elephants were killed in the year 2013/2014 compared to 82 elephants killed in the year 2012/2013.

The SPANEST project coordinator made the revelation on Wednesday when he was visited by the United Nations resident coordinator of the UN system, Alvaro Rodriguez who has been the country for three months now.

He said that the project has also involves the local community by giving them conservation awareness programs in the villages and communities adjacent to protected areas (PA) under the project.

Of recently, SPANEST has had conducted a youth awareness campaign against poaching for Idodi and Pawaga divisions (21 villages), using football competition (SPANEST CUP) targeting the youth teams.

The competition motto: Stop elephant poaching, play football, protect the elephants.

The aim of the project is to increase the effectiveness of national parks in protecting biodiversity and protect for the long term ecological, social and financial sustainability.

Meng’ataki said the drying up of the Great Ruaha River (GRR) is still the main challenge that making water resources decreasing, as result elephants were seen debarking baobab trees for water and destroying crops of the people living around buffer zones.

However, United Nations resident coordinator of the UN system, Alvaro Rodriguez has been impressed with the projects implemented by UN agencies through delivery as one motivation.

The delivery as one is system that is coordinating all UN agencies projects that is supporting the priorities of UN together development partners in Tanzania.

He said for the three months that he has been in the country he has managed to visit various areas including hospitals, clinics of people living with HIV/AIDS, income generating activities and parks.

He said that when he was Iringa he visited SPANEST project which doing the anti poaching drive of elephants in the Ruaha National Park.

Rodriguez said that he was impressed by the SPANEST project which funded by Global Environmental Fund (GEF) and implemented UNDP since Ruaha National Park has largest number of elephants in the country.

He urged that if the national resources is well utilized will help to benefit all, hence human development and poverty reduction.

Furthermore, he raised the question of gender balance when it comes to train and employ game guards.

He observed that there are few female game guards than male; adding that employing female game guards will increase the number of tourists coming in the country hence increased foreign exchange.

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