Protecting our savage fauna very carefully

A second meeting of the Sub-group of work on protected areas and savage fauna in Central Africa has been launched at Libreville in Gabon very recently.-By Yves Didier Irakoze

Mohamed Feruzi: “We will also develop our fauna of protected areas and transform the latter into touristic sites…”©Iwacu

“The main objective of this workshop was to finalize the guide on the creation and management of trans-borders protected areas in Central Africa and to validate the sub-regional strategic framework of management of the fauna in Central Africa which is being elaborated,” points out Mohamed Feruzi, Chairman of National Institute for Environment and Nature Conservation (INECN). It was also an opportunity to exchange on developed and adopted tools in 2012 by the international Consortium to fight against criminality to savage species and forests in order to see how to use them in Central Africa Forests Commission (COMIFAC) space. Moreover, participants analyzed the implementation of the action plan of strengthening national laws during the period 2012-2017. According to INECN Chairman, the workshop insisted on the danger of wildlife criminality in the sub-region and the measures that COMIFAC and member countries should take to tackle this scourge. He mentions that the Representative of Executive Secretary of COMIFAC salutes the engagement of member states to address this scourge taking appropriate initiatives. According to him, this has led to the signature of protocol’s agreement of the creation and management of the trans-borders protected areas. “The workshop also focused on a specific agreement of fighting against poachers in different parks,” states Mohamed. It gathered Directors in charge of fauna and/or protected areas, National Coordinators of COMIFAC, representatives of groups dealing with biodiversity work in Central Africa, civil society partners or all concerned people.

Burundi will benefit much

“Burundi is also threatened by the intrusion of poachers especially inside Ruvubu and Rusizi Parks, hunting for buffaloes and crocodiles,” deplores Mohamed. Being a member of COMIFAC, Burundi will get a fund from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to strengthen the supervision as well as the management of parks and undertake useful projects around parks. “We will also develop our fauna of protected areas and transform the latter into touristic sites for attracting tourists, ensuring effective protection and supervising good wildlife conservation,” he highlights. Over the issue of poachers in parks, INECN Chairman states that they work in partnership with the local administration and the police to secure parks and punish poachers.