MANET is an umbrella organisation of more than 70 environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
MANET secretary Frank Luvanda expressed concerns over the unstopped
poaching in the country’s wildlife sanctuaries, saying the wanton
practice remains a serious challenge that needs all players to address
the vice.
“But, we believe the current government under President John
Magufuli will deal with the challenge,” he said, urging the government
to ensure that boundaries of all protected areas are known to the
public.
In that case, it would be necessary to reduce boundary conflicts
between villagers living adjacent to protected areas and the authorities
governing those areas.
“We also want to see illegal fishing gear such as dynamite fishing,
poison fishing, and the use of under-size fishnets is stopped. We also
want to see the government stop further deforestation of natural forests
in Tanzania both in the protected forests and on the general land,” the
official said in a statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
According to Luvanda, there is a need for the government to ensure
simple and affordable renewable energy technologies are disseminated to
communities for sustainable management of natural resources in the
country.
MANET also wants to see all multinational oil and gas companies
operating in Tanzania abide by international safety and environmental
standards so as to protect marine ecosystems.
He implored the need for local communities to be engaged in
environmental conservation as part of responding to the negative effects
of climate change in the country and globally at large.
“The government should also ensure that all old policies and
legislation that resulted in the current environmental challenges and
threats are reviewed for better management of natural resources and
sustainable development of our country.”
“It is also high time the government collaborated well with Civil
Society Organizations both national and international in the
conservation of the environment. Tanzania also needs to put in place
mechanisms that would help in combating corruption and poor governance
around natural resources in Tanzania,” said MANET chairperson Zubery
Mwachulla.
Commending President Magufuli’s stand in tackling environmental
challenges, wildlife poaching, and in solving the problem of boundaries
between villagers and protected areas, Mwachulla said:
“As MANET, we’ll collaborate with the government in scaling up
environmental conservation in forestry, wildlife, fishery, and
extractives (oil and natural gas).We’ll also work hand in hand with the
government in addressing environmental challenges brought by climate
change and support renewable energies as part of mitigation and
adaptation efforts to climate change in Tanzania,” Mwachulla said.
MANET has been working closely with World Wildlife Fund for Nature
(WWF) in ensuring that there is sustainable conservation of natural
resources in Tanzania.
In 2014, MANET partnered with WWF in a campaign against illegal wildlife trade, dubbed: ‘Illegal Wildlife Trade Campaign’.
The campaign involved local communities fighting against barbaric
killings of innocent wild animals, which is currently at an alarming
rate.
The official from WWF Tanzania, Gerald Kamwenda was quoted as
saying the fight against poaching needs collective efforts among
stakeholders.
MANET is a national NGO and an umbrella of 71 Civil Society
Organisations. It works primarily in advocating for good governance of
natural resources that would in turn improve livelihood of community
members.
It also works basically in three thematic areas namely, Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries.
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