FORMER NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER CALLS FOR GLOBAL TO SAVE TANZANIAN WILDLIFE

UNDP leader and former New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark called on Governments around the World to increase the fight against eleph... thumbnail 1 summary
UNDP leader and former New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark called on Governments around the World to increase the fight against elephant poaching and illicit trade in wildlife products like ivory

Speaking at a high level anti-poaching conference yesterday at Hyatt Regency, Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es Salaam, She said crimes like anti-poaching and ivory trade have enormous consequences for the most vulnerable people in Tanzania by robbing nations of wealth, destroying natural resources for future generations.

She added that the anti-poaching is fuelling crime and corruption and undermining community and national security as they used illegal ways to attain their goal.
‘’These criminals activities put women, children and others in poverty in further hardship at greater risk’’. She said.

Helen Clark said that there is a high need to draw attention to the need for stronger law enforcement, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife products, and stable income generating activities for communities in Tanzania and other elephant and wildlife host countries


He added that her United Nations agency is committed to support initiatives against wildlife trade by helping in governance, the rule of law, poverty eradication and environment protection in support to governments and with other partners.

She said ‘’Strengthening governance is also critical to combat the illegal trade and law enforcement must be tackled on site and in strengthened national system’’. 

Tanzania is globally known for its abundance and diversity of wildlife resources particularly elephant. Poaching of elephants and illegal ivory trade in Tanzania and across Africa has increased tremendously in recent years and posese a threat to survival with security, economic, political and ecological ramification.

The conference held for two days in Tanzania was attended by national and international wildlife conservation experts and government representatives froma a dozen countries.