Zimbabwe is working on strategies to unlock trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) as it aims to improve working conditions and remuneration for rangers that safeguard endangered species, a Cabinet minister has said.
Speaking during the World Rangers Day recently, Environment, Climate and Wildlife minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said it was unfortunate that there were more restrictionsand over regulation of international trade as opposed to facilitation at Cites.
He said Zimbabwe understood the positive role of sustainable international trade in generating resources for conservation and pursuing human-wildlife coexistence issues affecting communities living with wildlife.
“Such restrictions are not based on science, but on different conservation ideologies. We believe the real solution to the issue of what seems to be a binary to wildlife issues is to expel divisive partisan culture at such important fora as this partisan approach is now slowly infiltrating even scientific research outcomes. Wildlife, as well as ranger welfare will suffer due to decreased financial resources for conservation activities,” he said.
Zimbabwe has about 28% of the country land under wildlife conservation in various categories.
