Tanzania to shut part of wildlife preserve to big game hunters
July 26, 2019
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tanzania-conservation/tanzania-to-shut-part-of-wildlife-preserve-to-big-game-hunters-idUSKCN1UL2G8
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Friday ordered the sprawling Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to be split in two to restrict the access of big game hunters. Covering 50,000 sq km (19,000 sq miles), the Selous reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa, and is famed for its elephants, lions, black rhinos, hippos and giraffes. About 8% of the Selous, which is larger than Switzerland, is dedicated to photo-tourism while the rest is a hunting reserve.
“Tourists come here and kill our lions, but we don’t benefit a lot from these wildlife hunting activities,” Magufuli said. “I want the Selous Game Reserve to be split into two. A bigger area of the wildlife sanctuary on the upper side should be turned into a national park where hunting activities are not permitted.” Magufuli said some 47 hunting blocks licensed to tourist hunting companies would be allowed to continue to operate in the lower part of the game reserve. He did not specify the size of either area but said the move would “preserve our wildlife species and boost the growth of the tourism sector”.
Tourism is the main source of hard currency in Tanzania, which is known for its beaches, wildlife safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro. The sector brought in $2.43 billion last year, up from $2.19 billion in 2017, according to government data. Magufuli made his announcement at the inauguration of construction work for the $3 billion Rufiji hydroelectric project at Stiegler’s Gorge, inside the Selous reserve. The World Wildlife Fund said the proposed dam would put the site and the livelihoods of over 200,000 people at risk, and that UNESCO had warned that any resulting damage would put the Selous’s status of World Heritage Site at risk. Magufuli said the project would take up only 3 percent of the wildlife sanctuary. “Tanzania is among global leaders in conservation activities, having allocated over 32 percent of our country’s total land to conservation,” he said. “Nobody can teach us about conservation.”
On John Magufuli, (another side of the coin)
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/oct/26/tanzania-illegally-detains-human-rights-lawyers-for-promoting-homosexuality
There has been a crackdown on homosexuality in Tanzania over the past 18 months, although the country has no law against homosexuality or its promotion.
“People are being arrested almost every day,” said LGBT campaigner James Wandera Ouma. “I’ve been arrested 17 times. It’s straightforward harassment and intimidation.”
In October 2016, the Tanzanian government announced a on ban HIV/Aids outreach projects aimed at gay men, and closed US-funded programmes that provide testing, condoms and medical care to the gay community. The countrywide closure of private HIV clinics began soon afterwards.
State repression of homosexuality has been accompanied by a wider crackdown on the Tanzanian media. Two years ago, a radio station was fined $3,000 (£2,270) for airing “support for same-sex marriage”. A number of media outlets have since been shut down for reasons including coverage of HIV issues, linking ministers to political scandals, and insulting the president.
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