Governance and compliance failures in fighting illegal ivory trade: Perspectives

from TanzaniaAlex W. Kisingo

College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka

Introduction to the plight of African elephants

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is facing a greatest crisis due to a surge in illegal ivory trade despite a ban by CITES

Growing concern that Tanzania is a leading source and a trafficking route for ivory to South-East Asian markets

Population declining in major strongholds eng. Selous ecosystem from > 60,000 in 2006 to about 13,000 in November 2013 (TAWIRI, 2010, 2013)

Positive efforts by Tanzania Protected areas covering nearly 40% of the

land cover

Establishment of anti poaching units in protected areas and in 8 zones

Some efforts into decentralization of wildlife management “CBNRM” into a collaborative management with communities outside core PAs

Area Size of area to be covered Number of personnel in protection departments

Number of vehicles

Ngorongoro District Council

Over 4000Km2 of Game Controlled Area and Forest Reserves

9 1

Antipoaching Unit – Western Zone

Four regions of Tanzania 16 3 working out of 8

Rukwa-Ukwati Game Reserve

8700Km2 including the Katavi National Park

40 Only 2 working for field works for Rukwa-Lukwati GR

Udzungwa-Mountains National Park

1990Km2 62

Source: Key informant interviews 2013

Lack of capacity by PA agencies to police wildlife resources

Protected Areas in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania

Most of the PAs scored weakly on governance

Even what is considered Community-based PAs did not perform any better on governance than more traditional Pas suggesting lack of governance authorities by the community

Eeffectiveness of governance approaches in Serengeti as perceived by communities

Serengeti National

Park

Ngorongoro Conservation

Area Management

Game Reserves

Game Controlled

Area

Wildlife Manageme

nt Areas

District Council and Administration

Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism

Forest Division

Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Governments

TANAPA Management and Board of Trustees

NCAA Board of Trustees

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Pastoral Council

Village Council and Committees

Wildlife Division

Ward Developmen

t Committees

Communicative relationship that is formal. Thickness of the line indicates the strength of communication

Collaborative relationship, not necessarily formal. Thickness of the line indicates the strength of collaboration

•Governance linkages are mixed

•Strong presence of bio-physical connectivity but weak governance connectedness

Disconnection of communities from wildlife resources More linkages between PA management agencies than with the communities

Challenges & way forwardThe problems in Tanzania are not with the strictness of

the laws but rather on their implementationWildlife is still considered a state property thus

discouraging/disconnecting communities from fighting poaching and illegal ivory trade unlike the past when wildlife was in the hands of local tribal leaders and some were sacred

This disconnection of wildlife ownership from communities has resulted into proliferation of corruption from the arrest of poachers to their acquittal in courts of law

Improve capacity for law-enforcement through decentralization of wildlife and protected area governance to communities to tap on community support in these efforts