Govt Considers Wildlife-Based Land Reform

Financial Gazette (Zimbabwe)
January 9, 2003
Harare

THE government is considering a policy document promoting sustainable wildlife management within the land reform programme, which has cost Zimbabwe at least $6 billion in poached wildlife in the past two years, the Financial Gazette has established.

Officials within the Ministry of Environment said the document, titled Wildlife-Based Land Reform Policy, was drafted in July by the ministry and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, in conjunction with two international wildlife conservation groups.

The document was submitted to other ministries at the end of last year, the officials said.

The objectives of the proposed wildlife-based land reform policy, a copy of which is in the possession of this newspaper, include equitable access to land and wildlife resources as well as sustainable management of wildlife.

"In addition to engendering greater production efficiency in the wildlife management sector, this policy seeks to address past inequities with respect to access to wildlife resources and benefits," the draft policy document says.

"However, the current land reform is silent on how to incorporate wildlife-based land uses. Therefore, in order that various proposals for wildlife-based land reform can be given due attention, it is necessary to articulate a relevant policy that will encourage sustainable management of Zimbabwe's wildlife resources."

It was not possible to ascertain this week if and when the document would be brought before Cabinet for discussion.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Lucas Tavaya, yesterday would only say that the government was still "looking into the document" without going into detail.

Wildlife industry officials estimate that at least 50 percent of Zimbabwe's wildlife has been wiped out by poachers in the past two years, and that the country has lost more than $6 billion in revenue.

Most of the poaching has been blamed on war veterans, who began occupying white-owned farms in February 2000, and on beneficiaries of the government's controversial land reform programme.

Disregard for the country's wildlife in the implementation of the agrarian reforms has resulted in the loss of not only wildlife but vegetation and animal habitats that conservationists say will only regenerate after many years.

Animal conservancies and tourism resorts have also been adversely affected by the land reform programme.

"Whether planned or not, virtually all resettlement has been based on use of land for agriculture," the draft Wildlife-Based Land Reform Policy said. "This emphasis on crops and livestock has fuelled poaching, habitat degradation and woodland loss on newly settled farms.

"The (Wildlife-Based Land Reform) policy is underpinned by recognition that wildlife is a viable land use option that can facilitate attainment of equity objectives and that it is feasible. This policy is complemented by existing natural resources legislation and the state protected area system."

The document proposes the creation of wildlife production zones outside protected areas that are dedicated to conservation.

"In these areas, wildlife should be the only permitted primary land use option. Outside core zones, wildlife production, amongst other land use options, will be encouraged," the draft policy said. "Wildlife production must be maintained where it is the most appropriate land use option."