WORLD WILDLIFE DAYTHE NATION WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 2015

LET’S GET SERIOUS ABOUT WILDLIFE CRIMEThe world is facing a wildlife crisis. According to figures published by WWF this year, up to half of the world’s species have been lost in the last 40 years - and our duty to protect our natural heritage is not just for the sake of the animals. The state of our fish, wildlife and plant populations are also a measure of our ecosystem health and the delicate balance is crucial for our very survival. Any single loss of species can set off a chain reaction that has far reaching impacts on everything from agriculture to climate change. Whilst some species loss is natural, this rate of decline is unprecedented and sadly much can be attributed to human activity.

Wildlife crime is the largest direct threat to the future of many of the world’s threatened species, second only to habitat loss in terms of overall threats against species survival. The UN estimates that the illegal wildlife trade is worth over $23 billion worldwide, with profits ending up in the hands of a small number of transnational organized criminal networks closely tied to militarised conflict and corruption. Much investigation into wildlife crime has focused on

those big species currently at risk of extinction, specifically tigers, rhinos and elephants. For example rhino poaching in South Africa rose from 13 to 1,004 between 2007 and 2013, an increase of 7,700%. Between 2009 and June 2014 criminal networks trafficked an estimated 170 tons of ivory, which would equate to around 230,000 elephants. If current rates of poaching continue there will be no elephants left roaming wild in Africa by 2025, and elephants have already been driven to extinction in countries like Sierra Leone and Senegal. We don’t want to see Malawi next on that list. So it’s no surprise that the UN has picked wildlife crime as the theme for this month’s World Wildlife Day, and an apt one for Malawi at that, since it appears that we have been targeted by wildlife criminals for some time.

Malawi a soft target

Why is this? In terms of logistics Malawi is well positioned between Zambia’s Luangwa, Tanzania’s Selous and Mozambique’s Niassa provinces, all poaching hotspots from which ivory needs to be exported. The extent of corruption also makes Malawi an attractive

option, even more so since the Cashgate scandal. Thirdly the World Bank ranks Malawi as one of the world’s poorest countries and pressing poverty related issues such as health and education have taken precedence over the environment so to some extent it is understandable why wildlife crime law enforcement has also been neglected. To date no-one has ever been sent to prison for trading in endangered wildlife products and the average penalty has been just $40. Finally in comparison to other countries our elephant populations are also significantly smaller – an estimated 2,344 vs Zambia’s 21,589 according to IUCN’s 2013 Elephant Database report - so the international wildlife community has not paid as much attention as they perhaps should. That is, until in depth investigations into the trading networks were conducted. From elephant to market

The route to market is complex, requiring cooperation all the way along the chain. It starts with

the poacher who in this country is generally recruited from the local community. This individual, or group of individuals, will incidentally receive a fraction of the profits in return for slaughtering the elephant and hacking off his ivory tusks, often whilst the animal is still breathing, a crime for which he could currently receive a ten year custodial sentence with hard labour. However there is also a growing and disturbing trend for the recruitment of professional syndicates. Highly trained Mozambican poaching gangs are responsible for the decimation of South Africa’s small rhino population with Kenya being targeted by Somali poaching gangs linked to Al-Shabab. Let’s hope this trend does not hit Malawi, as local communities around our national parks already have enough challenges without facing the destabilisation and violence that this scenario will ultimately bring. Move on up the chain past the local fixers and you have the transporters, exporters and importers, the clearing, shipping and customs agents and in Malawi’s case the historically weak

law enforcement, customs and border controls coupled with high levels of corruption make for an attractive scenario. For example in 2013, a haul of 781 tusks weighing 2.6 tonnes was intercepted near Mzuzu, having passed through the Songwe border and a number of police checks on the way down from Tanzania to Lilongwe. Finally we reach the Asian markets themselves. Here, the legal and black markets are blurred, where raw ivory is generally carved into trinkets and ornaments which are then bought as a status symbol by the rich, and a bizarre one at that considering what destruction it represents. China is the biggest market followed by other East Asian countries such as Thailand and a few African countries including Nigeria and Sudan. Ivory may have been traded for centuries but with elephants on the brink of extinction within the next decade it is a trade that must surely stop. And stopping the demand is a major challenge for campaigners who must persuade governments to amend its legislation as well as

Miles Zidana, Senior Parks & Wildlife Officer, displays confiscated ivory products.

WORLD WILDLIFE DAYTHE NATION WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 2015

change the attitudes of the end consumer. An IFAW survey found that 70% of the Chinese population falsely believe that an elephant’s ivory tusks ‘fell out’ and caused no harm. PR campaigns featuring famous Chinese celebrities such as NBA basketballer Yao Ming are having some impact with the younger population, but overall it appears that in the face of scarcity and the corresponding escalating price tag (currently triple that of 2010) the markets are simply hungry for more. Ivory has long been a tradition for the Chinese and there is a legal market which should be closely controlled by the government however this does not seem to be the case. A 2013 report by ‘Save the Elephants’ concluded that close to 80% of shops selling ivory were illegal. But that’s not a challenge for Malawi at this stage - we have enough on our hands stopping the exploitation of our trade networks and protecting our own elephant populations.

Moving forward

So what is Malawi doing to protect itself? Reflecting back to World Wildlife Day last March, Malawi launched its biggest ever

wildlife campaign called ‘Stop Wildlife Crime. Protect Malawi’s Wildlife’ - a joint initiative between the Government’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and local charity Lilongwe Wildlife Trust. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the consequences awaiting those who turn to wildlife crime and inspire the general public to take pride in their natural heritage. Malawians would struggle to miss it considering the sustained press, TV and radio coverage it has received. Indeed international travellers have been on the receiving end of much of the work, with Kamuzu International Airport showing their overwhelming support in the crackdown by displaying billboards, banners, posters and leaflets and training employees on the identification of ivory. Thanks to an injection of funding from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office the campaign has been extended into 2015 with activity including a wildlife film, radio plays and prioritised sensitisation of communities living around protected areas as well as authorities at border posts and checkpoints. The campaign also aimed to push wildlife conservation issues onto the agenda of decision makers, in

particular encouraging a crackdown on the ivory trade. In October 2014 hundreds marched to present a 3,768 strong petition to the Hon. Kondwani Nankhumwa, Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, organised by local charities Wildlife Action Group, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, and WESM. The petition asked the government to ban all international and domestic ivory trade, destroy ivory stockpiles, invest in anti-poaching and border force training and strengthen and implement strict penalties on all persons involved in the illegal wildlife trade. The Minister responded with concrete commitments, some of which are already underway. The petition has since been renewed in light of key decisions being made this month and at time of writing organisers had collected an additional 2,400+ signatures. As a result of international press coverage Malawi’s campaign organisers were also approached to add their voice to a letter asking for an end to the ivory trade that was presented to the Chinese president on 19th February, ahead of visit from the UK’s Prince William next month. One week later the Chinese government declared a one year ban on ivory imports. Of course, it takes a lot more than a marketing campaign, a march and a public plea for change to save Malawi’s elephants and there have been some significant steps forward behind the scenes at Government level. The recently completed illegal wildlife trade assessment has thrown light on the true picture of the extent of wildlife crime in the country as well as competencies and shortfalls. Last month’s initiation of a National Elephant Action Plan should map out a single collaborative approach with measurable results under the leadership of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. The establishment of an inter-agency committee has improved communications between the various law enforcement authorities and the wildlife policy is currently being reviewed. In the past month, record sentences have been passed as the authorities have used all their powers to make examples of wildlife criminals and it is anticipated that the law will change shortly to reflect the impact of their crimes on the nation. A living elephant is estimated to be worth 76 times more to African economies in terms of tourism in comparison to the dividends of a dead elephant and its ivory.

Whilst many of the achievements deserve congratulations there is still a long way to go. For one, these plans need to be funded, implemented and upheld in the years to come and government and NGO’s, both local and international, need to continue to collaborate. For another, whilst the focus is currently on elephants as a keystone species, there are many species at risk. Take our national tree, the Mulanje cedar, which is close to extinction thanks to illegal logging. Investigations have found close links between the syndicates involved in the illicit ivory and timber trade and even the turtle trade that made headlines last year. As DNPW’s motto goes, conservation is the responsibility of every Malawian, and with a handful of individuals profiting at Malawi’s vast expense it is time that we all

took heed. So make sure that friends and family are aware of the gravity of wildlife crime, never participate in wildlife trade - whether it’s ivory bracelets or pet monkeys - and do your bit for your country by keeping your eyes and ears open and reporting any suspicious activity.Given the clash between the official date and our own Martyr’s Day, World Wildlife Day celebrations in Malawi are now planned for 18th March. We look forward to seeing the next moves and the results in this fight against wildlife crime. The world is certainly watching.

For more information go to www.malawiwildlife.org. If you suspect wildlife crime please call the hotline 01 759 833 or 088 44 888 999. Rewards on offer for any information leading to a conviction.

Minister of tourism and culture Kondwani Nankhumwa responds to a petition asking the Government to ‘say no to ivory’, .

Major poaching and trafficking hotspots (Source: C4ADS Database – Ivory’s Curse, Elephant range data from AfESG’s AED).

The first ever World Wildlife Day was held in March 2014. We look back on some of the highlights in Malawi’s fight against wildlife crime led by the Department of National Parks & Wildlife.

1. ‘Stop Wildife Crime. Protect Malawi’s Wildlife’ campaign launched in partnership with Lilongwe Wildlife Trust. Funded by FCO. Includes 6000+ signature petition to say no to ivory.

2. Inter-Agency Committee to Combat Wildlife Crime (IACCWC) established with representation from MPS, DNPW, ACB, FIU, MRA, Department of Forestry, NIB, MDF and Interpol.

3. Illegal wildlife trade assessment completed for Malawi in accordance with the UNODC Toolkit on Wildlife and Forest Crime. Funded by GIZ and run in partnership with Lilongwe Wildlife Trust.

4. Legal review of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 2004 underway to strengthen legislation and appraise compliance with CITES Legislation Project.

5. Wildlife Policy Review in progress. Funded by UNDP GEF.

6. Law enforcer training programme commenced. Supported by RSPCA through DEFRA/DFID Challenge Fund grant.

7. National Elephant Action Plan kick off as part of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI). Funded by Stop Ivory and supported by Wildlife Conservation Society.

8. Record sentences handed out to poachers and wildlife traffickers including the biggest custodial sentences to date and maximum fines of MK 1,000,000.

9. Moratorium on the domestic trade in ivory in Malawi enforced in Sept 2014 as part of Malawi’s commitment to the Global Clinton Initiative.

10. Ivory inventory completed in accordance with CITES requirements and as part of the EPI.

ONE YEAR ON…

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WORLD WILDLIFE DAYTHE NATION WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 2015

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2014 was a tough year for African tourism. Much of the Ebola media hysteria lumped West and East Africa together as if it were a single country resulting in a sharp decline in tourism across the continent. In Tanzania for example, 2015 bookings plummeted fifty percent. Terrorism headlines also hit countries like Kenya hard, and our neighbours Tanzania and Mozambique could well be next on the list of countries to avoid. Still, the pull of Africa remains strong for many and the sad loss of other countries could be our gain. Malawi is generally perceived as a safe country for travel thanks to its warm, friendly people and comparatively peaceful history. Our reputation had a big boost last year after being named on the top ten destination lists for both Lonely Planet and CNN as well as the top emerging destination for 2015 by the Huffington Post. According to the World Bank, tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the world’s economy. The number of tourists arriving in Sub-Saharan Africa have grown 300% since 1990 and 33.8 million tourists visited the region in 2012 representing over $36 billion in revenue. Tourism contributes up to 13% of the GDP of countries like Botswana and Tanzania with wildlife tourism holding the biggest allure, representing 80% of the total annual sales of African trips. Again Malawi has potential here in spades

– mountains, plateaus, forests, national parks, the famous lake of stars, and now the iconic ‘Big Five’.Could wildlife tourism be Malawi’s golden ticket? Not if we don’t stop the exploitation and plunder of our natural resources. Along with habitat destruction, wildlife crime is impacting wildlife populations the world over and in this case Malawi definitely cannot claim a competitive advantage. With the 5th highest rate of deforestation in the world and wild animal numbers dwindling thanks to unsustainable poaching, our ‘product’ is vanishing fast. Poaching has a deteriorating effect on the tourism experience. Chances to observe wildlife are diminished because of reduced wildlife populations and changes in animal behaviour as they become more skittish at the sight of the human that has killed so many of its companions. Add to this negative sightings of barren landscapes, poached carcasses or captive wild animals on sale and Malawi is not the warm, wild and wonderful destination the traveller had hoped for. Without wildlife to see, there will be no tourists, and with that a loss of income, job opportunities and the much needed forex boost this economy needs. Some of you may remember Kasungu in its heyday, teeming with so much wildlife that we were able to send stock to South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park. Now

those 2000 strong elephant herds of the 1980’s are down to an estimated 58 according to latest counts. Whilst all our wildlife needs protection elephants are surely the most iconic loss facing us. If poaching continues at current rates there will be none left in the wild by 2025. This is not just a tragedy for people who love animals or care about the environment. When elephants are slaughtered for their ivory and trees are illegally logged, biodiversity is lost, ecosystems break down and the world’s poorest often bear the brunt of the fallout. Seventy-five percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas, and rely on healthy ecosystems for food, shelter and livelihoods, and this includes many of Malawi’s own 16.5 million people. Local communities will be significantly more motivated to protect wildlife from poachers and habitats from degradation if they see the direct benefits of tourism for themselves. To say that tourism and wildlife now depend on each other to survive is an oversimplification given the clear link between biodiversity and other sectors such as agriculture and human health. But tourism is the easiest economic association that can be made to so many wildlife species and in particular the elephant, currently facing extinction thanks to human greed.Alive, elephants benefit local communities and economies. Dead, they benefit criminal and

even terrorist groups. A single living elephant drives tens of thousands of dollars in tourism-related revenues along a whole chain of people from the lodge waiter and local rural tradesmen through to the car rental companies and the aviation industry. Given the overlap of ivory poaching locations and elephant tourism operations, every elephant killed makes these regions much less profitable.So instead of a Malawi without wildlife and tourism, let’s imagine a positive future. Where it’s not just the conservationists and the tourism industry taking action because their core ‘business’ relies on wildlife, but where everyone from our local communities through to

Government and private sector see the value in protecting our natural heritage. That they take decisions not just on the money they could take for themselves today, but that they and the rest of their countrymen could all reap tomorrow. Where our wildlife populations flourish and pull in visitors from all over the world, who travel around the country to visit our awesome natural wonders - from the zebras and orchids on Nyika plateau and the cedar forests of Mount Mulanje to Liwonde’s elephant herds and Majete’s Big 5 - spending their dollars as they go and giving our economy the boost we so desperately need. The future is in our hands.

WILDLIFE TOURISM: CAN WE MAKE IT WORK?

WORLD WILDLIFE DAYTHE NATION WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH 2015

Tourism needs wildlife and our economy needs tourism. Tourism brings in money, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of local communities. Malawi will not be beaten by a handful of wildlife criminals

Mrs Patricia Liabuba, Director of Tourism

Whilst we have achieved some tremendous results in the last year, wildlife conservation is heading towards a crisis that requires collaboration, grit and determination. The fight has only just begun.

Mr Brighton Kumchedwa, Director of National Parks & Wildlife

Wildlife criminals can now expect prison sentences – up to 10 years with hard labour. The current fines do not reflect the severity of the crime.

Mr Chisomo Msokera, Senior Resident Magistrate, Lilongwe and Chair of IWC Interagency Committee

My message to wildlife criminals is this: we will find you and we will prosecute you. We will not allow you to destroy our natural heritage.

Mr Levison Mangani, Central Region Assistant Commissioner of Police for Prosecution

If you are thinking of trafficking ivory or any other wildlife artefacts through our airport then you should think twice. We are waiting for you.

Mr Donnie Chimtengo, Airport Commandant, KIA

“ Malawi’s commitment to the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade has been noticed in the UK and elsewhere. Obviously more needs to be done, but if there is demonstrable commitment, then Malawi will have friends in support.

His Excellency, Mr Michael Nevin, British High Commissioner

‘The German government is committed to supporting Malawi in its fight against poaching and protecting biodiversity’

Dr Peter Woeste, German Ambassador

Don’t look the other way whilst our forests are destroyed and our wild animals are slaughtered for the benefit of foreigners.

Sally Nyundo, musician

Biodiversity loss will ultimately impact on human wellbeing, from crop failure and food shortages to disease. Prioritising wildlife conservation, whether it’s protecting habitats or tackling wildlife crime, is crucial for a sustainable future.

Mr Jonathan Vaughan, Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust

“So long as we continue to renege our sacred duty to steward and protect God’s creation, our worship of God will remain anaemic.”

Sean Kampondeni, Pastor, Lilongwe

Work is tough on the ground. People come with guns and they kill these elephants so brutally, sometimes hacking off their tusks before they are even dead. But we are not scared of them.

Aphety Namani , Scout, DNPW

If our elephants keep getting poached for their ivory like this then we will have to show pictures of them to our children in history books

School children, Bambino school

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• NEVER BUY, SELL, KEEP CAPTIVE, KILL OR EAT any wild animal or their parts. It’s against the law if you don’t have a licence from DNPW.

• REPORT any suspicious activity – 01759 833 or 088 44 88 999. Rewards for any information leading to a conviction.

• ENTER our poster competition.

• SIGN the petition to ‘say no to ivory’.

Find out more at www.malawiwildlife.org.

• SPEAK OUT about the wildlife crisis with friends and family. Encourage kids to join their school’s wildlife club.

• JOIN IN Malawi’s Wildlife Day celebrations on Wednesday 18th March.

• FOLLOW our campaign on Facebook.

• LEARN about wildlife with a visit to Lilongwe Wildlife Centre.

It is the responsibility of every Malawian to protect our wildlife. Here’s how you can help: