By Friday Simbaya, Mbarali
THE Chairman of the Waga Community Wildlife Management Area (CWMA), Amon Kisinga is asking the government to help solving the problem of the boundary dispute between the CWMA and Ulata Village which is in Iringa District, Iringa Region.
He said the conflict hinders the activities of wildlife protection provided that it is an important area for conservation. The species commonly found in Waga CWMA include elephants, greater Kudu, giraffe, buffaloes, bush pig (warthog) and many others.
Kisinga made the appeal during the inauguration of the office for Waga Community Wildlife Management Area held at Nyakadete Villlage in Mbarali District, Mbeya Region yesterday (Thursday).
He said Waga CWMA is rich in wildlife as a buffer zone to the adjacent of Ruaha National Park (RUNAPA) with at least ten (10) village game scouts (VGSs) who patrol the CWMA.
Waga CWMA covers an area of 315 square kilometers, representing land that has put aside for conservation by five villages from three districts, which came together and create the area.
The villages are Nyakadete and Nyamakuyu (Mbarali District, Mbeya Region), Igomaa and Ihanzutwa (Mufindi District, Iringa Region) and Mahuninga (Iringa District, Iringa Region) respectively.
Kisinga elaborated that the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has partnered with Waga CWMA since the inception of the area in 2008, providing resources that were used to complete the authorization process as well as the key action.
He said USAID has supported WCS in completing the work under the Southern Highlands and Ruaha Ruaha-Katavi Protection Program agreement, which has played a leading role in establishment of many other CWMAs in Tanzania.
He said WCS have been working shoulder to shoulder in the process of the establishment of the Waga CWMA since 2008, until its incorporation in 2015 and obtained the certificate of wildlife user right in 2016.
Kisinga said the WCS, helped out to connect with other institutions that focus on anti poaching such as Ruaha National Park (RUNAPA) and a special squad to combat poaching (KDU) in Iringa zone.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony on Thursday, the Director of Wildlife Department (Ministry of Natural Resource and Tourism), Professor Alexander Songorwa urged citizens living around the protected areas not to engage and participate in poaching activities.
He said that the people should not never entangled in crimes such as illegal poaching which resource contribution to the loss of national economy resources, hence missing income and social services.
"In recent years our country has seen an increase in poaching and among the contributing factors is the growing market of ivory out of our country, especially the Middle East and Asia; erosion of values for some of us, the corruption that causes low-income people to engage in poaching and also violation of the law of conservation, "said Professor Songorwa.
He said that with the increase of poaching there has been an invasion of protected areas for pasturing livestock, agriculture, and mining and establishment of settlements.
"All this is accompanied by burning and deforestation, acts that cause environmental damage, including the destruction of water sources," stressed Professor Songorwa.
He said that the increase in human-wildlife conflicts caused by harsh animals is attributed largely to people disrespect borders to invade protected areas or draw completely in the wildlife areas.
In addition, the Director of the Department of Wildlife used the opportunity to thank the WCS and USAID by building the Waga CWMA office that will help reduce poaching.
He said that the government as a major stakeholder of wildlife conservation will continue to build awareness and motivate the public and other stakeholders involved, especially rescue wildlife that are endangered, such as elephants, rhinos, wolves and others.
On his part, Aaron Nicholas Director, WCS Ruaha-Katavi Landscape Program said for three (3) years, WCS has supported the work of 10 village game scouts (VGS) – drawn from member villages.
He said VGS have been trained in Likuyu Seka and equipped to protect the wildlife in the area through controlling illegal activities such as poaching, tree felling and grazing within the WMA.
Nicholas said VGS were trained to monitor their work and effectiveness through the use of special field computers using a software system called ‘SMART’ in collaboration with the zonal anti-poaching unit in Iringa.
The construction of the Waga CWMA office in Nyakadete Village is an important step in providing a base from which the CWMA can be managed.
The office cost roughly 90 million shillings (90m/-) to build and includes a solar power system, water provision, meeting room and furniture.
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