By Jeff Kapembwa
Wildlife related crimes coupled with unabated and indiscriminate cutting down of trees for charcoal production, affecting Zambia’s ecosystem and biodiversity has forced two-agencies to join hands under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to militate the uncouth acts.
Estimates adduced in losses from wildlife related crimes is not actually quantified, although losses related to poaching and other game-related crimes point to Zambia losing an average US$3 million in potential economic value within the private wildlife estates (PWEs) alone.
At global level, Zambia, like many of the countries ‘taming and protecting wildlife, suffer loses with estimates between US$ 7 billion and US$ 12 billion globally in revenue annually due to these activities, despite concerted efforts against anti-poaching measures by DNPW, World Bank says in its report
Untamed charcoal production in Zambia, chiefly for domestic home and other industrial-use has forced the Southern African state to be identified as one of the world’s countries recording highest deforestation rates in Africa, losing approximately 250,000 to 300,000 hectares of forest annually.
This widespread environmental degradation significantly impacts countless species, from endangered elephants to vulnerable birds like the Zambian barbet, though a monetary value for this specific biodiversity loss is not calculated in the provided sources, the report adds.
The DNPW Department has instituted extensive anti-wildlife crime measures including combating poaching and illegal trafficking of protected species through various law enforcement and community engagement initiatives.
This is done through dedicated wildlife policing and intelligence led-investigations to prevent the uncouth acts, though not enough.
It is envisaged the call for review and implementing stricter penalities through amendments to the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015, have resulted in stiffer jail terms and heavier fines for convictions, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders.
Overly, collaborating and partnering with other interest groups, like the Forest Department, National Prosecution Authority, police, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) among other interest groups, is helping in reducing the crimes.
The forest department is initiating various measures to reverse the increasing illegal acts The forest department is fighting unprecedented charcoal-related crimes.
These include imposing stiffer penalties including fines, community involvements while seeking to initiative alternative livelihood like introducing charcoal briquettes for those involved in environmental plunder.
The DNPW and Forest departments, driven by the unabated practices have since sought to co-exist in fighting the crime related actives through the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
These will effectively allow the duo to jointly strengthen capacities to fight wildlife and illegal timber trading heightened by unsustainable charcoal production.
DNPW Director Dominic Chiinda, regretted the unabated and uncouth practices and warned that with the signing of the SOPs, it gave impetus for these agency to seek to effectively reduce the rising crimes as the duo strive to combat environmental crimes relating to forests and the wildlife.
have been fragmented, yet the threats to our forests and wild
Mr. Chiinda, speaking during the signing, Friday, reiterated the essence of the forests which remains a vital ecosystem for wildlife, in turn reinvigorate the forest regeneration.
This, is a call for such collaboration to be promoted among more interest groups. The SOPs, will arguably focus chiefly on reducing environmental crime, ensuring the safety of officers, and building strong, prosecution-ready cases.
Under the terms of the SOPs, the forestry and DNPW department will among other collaborations undertake joint and structured operations through intelligence information gathering, joint patrols while promoting clear operations and command, an effective tool for fighting the crimes affected the two agencies.
Under the SOPs frontline officers are expected to work as ‘a team’ with unity and integrity.
The initiative aligns with Zambia’s inter- national obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Paris Agreement.
Forestry Department Acting Director, Freddie Siangulube re-echoed the call for fighting the indiscriminate cutting of trees and is hopeful, the SOPs will mark a “significant milestone” in natural resource governance.
Forests and wildlife are national strategic assets and need to be protected as they are essential for water protection, agriculture, energy systems, and biodiversity.
Dr. Siangulube, however, called for unwavering levels of discipline for the SOPs to be actualized while driven by unity in confronting the well-organised crimes perpetuated by people with high influence in society.
The SOPs have been touted to be key in reversing the escalating levels to the two sectors and will help bring out each group’s strengths: operational clarity, improved coordination, and enhanced procedural integrity to take the fight with verve.
Dr. Siangulube reaffirmed the Forestry Department’s unwavering resolve to support frontline officers with better systems and protection and underscored the importance of community engagement in conservation efforts.
In sounding a warning to illegal actors Dr. Siangulube warned perpetrators: “Your space for operating with impunity is shrinking.”
The SOPs, is a show of commitment by Zambia to sustain natural resource management and the protection of its ecological and economic future as both departments are open to working with more stakeholders to safeguard Zambia’s forests and wildlife for future generations.