THE government has received Euros 6 million (13.2bn/-) from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) for implementing programmes aimed at addressing conflicts between humans and wild animals, especially in areas around national parks.
This was said by the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mary Masanja during a meeting with conservators at the Community Based Conservation Training Centre (CBCTC) Likuyu Sekamaganga Namtumbo District in Ruvuma Region.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan has sought funds amounting to 13.2bn/- which will be used to research areas with challenges of fierce wild animals, to educate communities living on the edge of the reserves on how to conserve and deal with fierce wild animals,” Ms Masanja insisted.
She said the three-year project aims to provide knowledge to the community about how to deal with wild and destructive animals, whereby the beneficiary communities will pass the knowledge to other communities.
In addition, she said the training will also be given to Village Game Scouts (VGS) to help in dealing with aggressive and destructive wild animals.
The deputy minister further said that if communities are educated on how to conserve and deal with fierce and destructive animals, there will be no hatred between humans and conservation activities.
The Principal of the Community Based Conservation Training Centre (CBCTC) Likuyu Sekamaganga, Jane John said the college provides training for Village Wildlife Officers, Village Forest Officers, Officers in charge of community beaches, courses for leaders and members of natural resources committees of villages, Diploma in Tourism and Tour Guides as well as training to control fierce and destructive wild animals.
