MEFT calls for stronger anti-poaching cooperation - nbc

Описание: The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MEFT) has called for stronger cooperation between farmers and law enforcement to combat increasing cases of poaching and human-wildlife conflict.

Speaking during a farmers' engagement meeting in Omaruru, Martin Herman, Chief Warden at MEFT, said farmers and authorities are often operating in isolation, weakening efforts to curb poaching in farming areas.

Despite conducting monthly law enforcement patrols and annual regional anti-poaching operations, he explained that cases tend to rise again after major operations conclude.

"We're either not coordinating, or we are working in isolation, so I'm just urging that we probably, for us, do monthly law enforcement patrols, of which I think we need to coordinate with farmers to make sure that we arrest this situation, or we reduce the issue of poaching in the region. So we do several interventions, like we normally have our yearly big operation, which is a regional operation."

Herman also raised concern about an increase in human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving leopards on both communal and commercial farms.

While farmers are permitted to destroy dangerous animals under policy guidelines, he said many incidents are not reported to the ministry, which can result in illegal possession of protected wildlife products.

"There is also an increase in human-wildlife conflict; I think that mostly involves leopards, both in communal and commercial farms. So, according to our policy, farmers are allowed to destroy such animals, and in case that happens, they also need to report to the Ministry of Environment, of which we either receive or we don't receive at all reports of farmers destroying these animals."

The ministry says continued cooperation and compliance with reporting procedures remain key to reducing wildlife crime and managing human-wildlife conflict.