JET, USAID bring together editors for biodiversity conservation

THE Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) in collaboration with USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili has organised this year’s editors on biodiversity conservation meeting for two days.

The editors consultative meeting that starts today at a Bagamoyo hotel is one of the strategies to increase quality and quantity of biodiversity conservation stories in the media to influence change of attitude amongst Tanzanians on conservations.

JET Executive Director, Mr John Chikomo said the meeting will provide a platform for journalists to interact with resource persons on different subject matters in relation to biodiversity conservation and get accurate information for their reporting.

He noted that Tanzania is among the world’s most biodiverse countries, with over 55,000 confirmed species. The country is also home to one-third of the total plant species and 20 per cent of the large mammal species in Africa.

“Unfortunately, over the last few decades Tanzania has lost at least one-third of its important ecosystems and experienced downward trends in both the number of species and their individual population sizes. In the last decade alone, the number of threatened species in Tanzania has tripled,” he said.

The director exposed that one of the challenges in biodiversity conservation is lack of data, knowledge and systematic information flow on matters related to biodiversity loss and economic value of biodiversity.

Conservation challenges such as invasive species and climate change in the wildlife corridors and protected areas require dedicated efforts of conservation stakeholders to address them.

USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili Activity in partnership with JET has organised the meeting, building on the previous trainings to journalists on conservation matters, to create an interactive platform between journalists and conservation experts with the aim of increasing knowledge and create awareness among Tanzanian citizens on biodiversity conservation.

He mentioned the objectives as to increase journalist’s knowledge on biodiversity conservation issues for better reporting, inform Tanzania on biodiversity conservation trends and link journalists with relevant biodiversity/ resource persons, experts and stakeholders for future reporting.

Mr Chikomo said the expected outcomes are increased biodiversity conservation knowledge among the journalists, increased quality and quantity of biodiversity conservation stories in the media and increased knowledge among Tanzanian public on biodiversity conservation.

Approximately 25 editors, experts, conservation stakeholders and journalists from various media houses are expected to attend the breakfast debate. Participants were selected by JET in collaboration with USAID Tuhifadhi Maliasili project staff.

The debate will involve four panelists who will discuss key areas of biodiversity conservation. They are challenges of invasive species in conservation and community development and the role of Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) in combating wildlife crimes and promoting tourism in Tanzania.

Others are raising awareness on human-wildlife conflicts and solutions that have been successful and unsuccessful and how media reports human-wildlife conflicts.

The meeting is justified considering that the media has a significant role to play in fostering national development by reporting objectively stories of public interest and by holding those with power accountable.

That crucial role, however, can only be attained effectively and sustained when reporting quality meets professional benchmarks. The editors’ meeting will analyse the media reporting quality of the corridors and wildlife connectivity and other biodiversity conservation stories in the country using the experience from editors, bloggers and media stakeholders.

Editors are the gatekeepers who decide what should go to the public and what should not. But it is not just about opening and shutting the door; this should be backed by adequate knowledge of the subject matter and societal needs for information. Where a journalist’s story has knowledge and skills gaps, it is upon the editor to fill the gaps.