O level Notes: Agricuture - Wildlife

There are conflicts that usually occur between human beings and wild animals. The government of Zimbabwe through its department  of  Parks  and Wildlife  Management  have  established  some  rules  and regulations on the utilisations of wildlife resources. This have reduced the conflict between human beings and wildlife as it promote harmony and peace.

Human and wildlife conflict

There is always a lot of friction between human beings and wildlife. The main cause of these conflicts is the scarcity of resource such as living space and food reserves.

• Human beings often hunt wildlife as a source of protein in their day to day lives. This causes a threat to wildlife as most unauthorized hunters are non-selective. They can even hunt the young ones and may lead to a great decrease in wildlife population.

• Human beings also hunt wildlife in order to get more products other than meat. These include ivory, skin and bones which can be sold to earn income.
• Some wildlife are dangerous animals like lions and leopards and they cause a threat to lives of people living in wildlife prone zones. Dangerous animals may attack people causing death if they are left uncontrolled.
• Problem animals like baboons, monkeys and wild pigs often destroy human being crops whilst feeding themselves.
• Human beings often clear vast areas of land in resettlement areas to create fields, residential areas or in industrial areas. This will destroy wildlife habitat and the wildlife will be left exposed to predators therefore they tend to shift to other areas.
• Human beings tend to pollute the environment by their industrial and farming activities. Wildlife will be affected when they breathe polluted air or when they drink polluted water and may die.

A class discussion on the conflict between human beings and wildlife.

Legislation in wildlife resources management in Zimbabwe

Legislations are laws and regulations of the nation that guide man on resources utilisation. Agriculture legislation was set to monitor the utilisation of forests and wildlife, control of pests and diseases just to mention a few. Some of the regulations on wildlife management are as follows:

1. Government may declare some areas as protected (National Parks, Nature reserves, forests and sanctuaries).
2. In these areas, hunting, disturbing animals, fishing or firewood fetching is prohibited.
3. Cattle are not allowed in forest areas as they may promote spread of diseases when they mix with wildlife.
4. Also cultivation is an offence in certain protected areas.
5. Certain animal species like elephants should not be hunted unless a special licence is offered.

Government policies on wildlife

These are guidelines that enhance proper management and protection of wildlife. They include the Parks and Wildlife Act (2002), National Environmental Education Act (2004) and Land ReformAct (2004) among others.

Parks and WildlifeAct (2002)

The act is there to ensure that sustainable management and control measures are put into place to protect the wildlife of Zimbabwe. These management strategies involves controlled hunting, setting of recreational parks, national parks and sanctuaries.

National Environmental Education Act (2004)

The policy was put in place to educate the people to equip them with adequate knowledge on the sustainable and human utilization of natural resources. Education is imparted in schools, colleges, universities and training centres. It ensures all groups of people with different backgrounds and experiences are given necessary information relating to wildlife management.

Land reform policy (2004)

The purpose of the policy is to allocate land for wildlife and human beings with equity. It restrict people to certain areas and wildlife to the other areas so as to ensure the habitat is adequate for both. If people are left unrestricted, they may encroach in wildlife areas thereby disturbing them.

The  role  of  voluntary  organizations  and  government  in  wildlife management

• The government set laws and policies that governs the management of wildlife resources.
• Government provide funding through related organizations and institutions.
• Government through its departments will ensure the health, population and safety of wildlife is monitored.
• Government also facilitate the exportation of wildlife resources and products to generate income for the country.
• Voluntary organizations such as Imire, Rhino, The World Conservation Union, and World Wide Fund for Nations and Safari Clun International provide funds to government towards implementation of conservation programmes.
• Big Five Conservation in Zambezi and Hwange National Parks provide with funding, manpower and transport to rangers and scouts of Parks and Wildlife Management Department.
• The funds from voluntary organizations can then be used to relocate animals, control of pests and diseases, repair and erection of new fences and also to carryout training courses for the local people.

The role of Communal Area Management Programme for

Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE)

CAMPFIRE operates in communities that are close to wildlife areas. The communal people works together with government departments such as Parks and Wildlife whereby they are taught sustainable wildlife management techniques, how to defend themselves against dangerous animals and how they can benefit from animals found in their area. They identify possible markets and selling prices. The proceeds can then be used for the benefit of local people.

Benefits of campfire

• Building of infrastructure such as schools, roads, bridges, clinics and irrigation cooperatives using funds from sells of wildlife and their products.
• Local people get a source of protein from slaughter of animals and gathering of other nutritious palatable insects like Madora.
• It minimizes the risk of poachers as people became educated on the benefits of good wildlife management.
• Wildlife and human beings will live in harmony and peace.

The role of International Conventions in wildlife management

International Convention is a worldwide programme set to protect wildlife resources and  general environment  through  agreed  policies  and  laws. There  are  several International Conventions but their objectives are very closely related. One of them is

Conventions on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Functions of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

• It prohibits the commercial trade in endangered species.
• It goes against actions leading to extinction of wildlife by allowing trade of only those animals that exists in large numbers.

CITES' control of wildlife is based on appendices or groupings. Animals are put into appendix I, appendix II and appendix III depending with their importance. Animals can be changed from one appendix to another basing on the danger of that animal to get extinct.

Appendix I

It comprises of animals that are in high danger of extinction. It is prohibited to trade in these animals and their products. Examples are; lion, rhino, cheetah, elephant, puff adder, pangolin, leopard and brown hyena.

Appendix II

It consists of animals that are in less danger of extinction but are monitored to promote sustainable use. Examples are; hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, blue duiker, knob billed duck and wild cat.

Appendix III

This group have type of animals depending on the country's needs to protect them for their own reasons. Currently in Zimbabwe, there are no animals listed under this appendix.

Here is what we have discussed in this topic

• Wildlife refer to all the wild animals and plants found in the forest.
• The conflict that revolves between human beings and wildlife include the following;
• Human beings often hunt wildlife as a source of food and if uncontrolled can lead to decline in wildlife population.
• Human beings also hunt wildlife in order to get ivory, skin and bones which they trade to earn income.
• Some wildlife are dangerous animals like lions and leopards and they cause a threat to lives of people living in wildlife prone zones.
• Problem animals like baboons, monkeys and wild pigs often destroy human being crops whilst feeding themselves.
• Human beings often clear vast areas of land in resettlement areas to create fields, residential areas or industrial areas thereby destroying wildlife habitat.
• Human beings activities in industries and farming pollute environment and wildlife may get affected to ill health or death.
• The existing legislation on wildlife resources management in Zimbabwe is called Parks and WildlifeAct (Chapter 20: 14).
• The legislation controls the hunting of wildlife from safari areas.
• The regulations governing the utilisation of wildlife include the following;
• It is not allowed to perform hunting, disturbing animals, fetching firewood or fishing in the protected areas.
• Certain animal species like elephants, rhinoceros and lions should not be hunted unless a special license is offered.
• Government policy in wildlife consist of guidelines that enhances proper management and protection of wildlife.
• The policy include;
• The National Environmental Education Act (2014) which serves to educate the people to equip them with adequate knowledge on the sustainable and human use of wildlife.
• Land Reform Policy (2004) which is responsible for allocating area for wildlife and human beings with equity.
• The role of government in wildlife management is to set laws and policies that governs the management of wildlife.
• Government provide funding through related organizations and institutions.
• Voluntary organizations like Imire, Rhino and World Conservation Union also provide funding towards implementation of conservation programmes.
• Communal Areas Management  Programme  for  Indigenous  Resources (CAMPFIRE) assists communal people to manage surrounding wildlife in order to benefit from them.
• Benefits of CAMPFIRE include; building of infrastructures like good roads, schools, bridges and clinics, supplementing protein content food to local people from slaughtered wild animals and people live in harmony with wildlife.

• International Conventions is a worldwide programme set to protect wildlife resources and general environment through agreed policies and laws.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is one of the International Conventions that prohibits the commercial trade in endangered species.
• Wildlife can be controlled through the use of appendices.
• Appendix I consist of animals in high danger of extinction such as lions, rhino, cheetah, elephant and pangolin and it prohibit the trade in these animals.
• Appendix II consist of animals that are in less danger of extinction such as Nile crocodile, blue duiker and wild cat, but are monitored to promote sustainable use.

Definitions

• Botanical gardens- is an area where a variety of plant species like shrubs, trees and flowers are established.
• Sanctuaries- it is a protected area where important animal species are kept.
• Legislation- these are laws and regulations of the nation that guide man's activities on utilizing natural resources.
• Extinction- it is the complete exhaustion of a particular specie.