Support to the maritime transport sector is a key intervention in the fight against illegal trade in wild animals and plants.
Our Correspondent Daniel Semberya spoke to Julie Thomson, Director of wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, East Africa office on their interventions. Here are the excerpts. Q: How does your network address illegal logging, fishing and wildlife trade?
A: TRAFF IC has more than 100 projects globally to ensure that trade in wild species is legal and sustainable for the benefit of the planet and people. In Tanzania, we work closely with respective ministries and other stakeholders to generate evidence, analysis, and solutions to strengthen policy frameworks as well as building responsible and fair supply chains to reduce illegal trafficking.
The areas where we work throughout the world are guided by our mission and strategic objectives which are informed by factors such as research
findings, ongoing monitoring of illegal wildlife trade, and consultation with partners and stakeholders.
To give you an idea of the work we have undertaken in Tanzania with respect to illegal timber, TRAFF IC has undertaken research into the trade in timber which triggered the establishment of the Tanzania Forest Service and the Mama Misitu Campaign. Together with Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS), it developed an electronic system to track timber shipments in real time to improve understanding and efficiencies in the timber trade.
With its close partner World Wildlife Fund (WWF), for almost 10 years it has delivered an annual regional information-sharing forum on timber and non-timber forest products for government and non-governments, it has undertaken an assessment of Tanzania’s timber legality framework, and
currently, among other things, is working with TFS
on developing a timber identification mobile app.
Q: Studies have indicated that weak legislation, lack of enforcement capacity and corruption have been some of the key enabling factors exploited by traffickers to smuggle wildlife and its products out of African countries to supply the demand abroad. What are your comments on these and from your experience what steps do you suggest should be taken by the govern- ment and other key stakeholders to arrest the situation?
A: Tanzania actually has very strong law enforcement and legislation when it comes to wildlife crime. The minimum sentence is 20 years, and the maximum is 30 years. However, mechanisms need to be continually strengthened to meet new trends and techniques used by criminals. For example, this means continually capacitating law enforcement on aspects such as crime scene management, ensuring law enforcement agencies both nationally and regionally are coordinated and sharing pertinent information, and sensitizing the criminal justice sector on the seriousness of crimes against nature.
Q: Findings have shown that the strategic location of the Port of Dar es Salaam and to a lesser extent, the Port of Zanzibar, provides traffickers with access to international trade routes and markets as well as the shipping industry. As an NGO working globally on the wildlife trade, how do you collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to address the situation?
A: We do this through several ways. For example, we provide support through capacity building which may involve training of trainers on illegal wildlife trade, developing reference guides to help the private sector from being unwittingly used by wildlife criminals, undertaking research and providing the results to government and relevant stakeholders for their action, and holding multi-stakeholder workshops to improve collaboration among relevant agencies, including private sector. Just to note, much of our work is undertaken through formal agreements we have with government
agencies
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