China at forefront in wildlife, forests protection in Tanzania

To begin with, a delegation of officials from the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China was in the country over the weekend to hold a workshop on Addressing Wildlife Trafficking and Implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Flora and Fauna (CITES).

In attendance at the workshop were over 70 Chinese investors and business partners residing in the country.

According to Dr Meng Xianlin, executive director general of the Cites Management Authority of China: “The trade controls in China are more restricted than the international conventions: banning rhino horn and tiger bone, suspending ivory imports, and banning the ivory commercial processing and sales completely in the country.”

“Due to the determination to fight illegal hunting, transportation, business operation and exploitation of wildlife, the wildlife crime cases are substantially decreased.” 

He said wildlife is an important part of nature’s ecosystem and plays an irreplaceable role in maintaining national ecological security, promoting sustainable development, and inheriting human culture.

According to Dr Xianlin, the Chinese government has always adhered to the concept of sustainable development, drove the construction of ecological civilisation, and promoted the harmonious development of human and nature.

He added that China has established a regulatory system based on the Wildlife Protection Law, Wild Plant Protection Regulations, and Regulations on Import and Export of Endangered Species.

“A series of key projects on the ecological forestry construction have been implemented, in order to improve wildlife habitat, and it has reversed the decreasing trend of some species,” he said.

Over the years, poaching and smuggling activities targeting African elephants, rhinos, pangolins and rare timbers have been rampant.

In 2014, Tanzania and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that promotes wildlife and forest conservation as well as reduce illegal consumer’s demand of wildlife and forest products.

According to the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Major General Gaudence Milanzi: “The MoU also emphasizes on awareness raising campaigns regarding  the illegal wildlife trade and trafficking, as well as policies, legislations and procedures to combat the problem.”