Mozambique: Authorities seize huge haul of elephant tusks bound for Dubai - photos
The campaign’s four “ambassadors” will participate in the filming. They are former President Joaquim Chissano, and popular musicians Lizha James, Stewart Sukuma and King Sweet. [Photo: ANAC]
Mozambique’s Minister of Land and Environment, Ivete Maibaze, on Wednesday launched a campaign against the illegal trade in wild life products, under the slogan “Poaching Steals from Us All”.
The objective of the campaign, she declared in Maputo, “is to promote the sustainable use of the country’s fauna and flora”.
If wild life were to be used correctly, she added, “it could contribute significantly to development”.
Maibaze said that recent agreements signed with China and Vietnam “will help fight the illegal trade in Mozambican wildlife”. China has long been the main destination for ivory smuggled out of Africa, while Vietnam has been the main market for rhino horn, in the deluded belief that the horn is effective medication against ailments ranging from hangovers to cancer.
ALSO READ: Over 4 tons of ivory confiscated in 2014-2019 in Mozambique
The campaign will consist of producing television documentaries, short spots for television and radio, the production of billboards, and of material for social media, with information on the conservation of biodiversity, intended to raise awareness of the need to prevent and combat poaching.
The campaign’s four “ambassadors” will participate in the filming. They are former President Joaquim Chissano, and popular musicians Lizha James, Stewart Sukuma and King Sweet.
The campaign is led by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in partnership with the California-based NGO, WildAid.
It will also stress the importance to the economy of nature-based tourism. The General Director of ANAC, Mateus Mutemba, declared “Our government recognises the key role that tourism plays in providing funds for the conservation of wild life. Mozambique is a beautiful country with much to offer to both local and international tourists”.
“Our goal”, said Mutemba, “is to ensure that this country rises to the top of the list of ‘must-visit’ destinations – and stays there”.
Mozambique gov’t takes action to curb poaching crisis. Been escalating since 2009 https://t.co/fBjiPIXI2C pic.twitter.com/g8dnisMbOI
— WildAid (@WildAid) March 5, 2020
ANAC runs all the country’s national parks, reserves, wild life farms and other conservation areas. The conservation areas now cover about 25 per cent of Mozambique’s national territory.
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