Journalists to benefit from conservation training

DAR ES SALAAM: JOURNALISTS from local media are set to benefit from environment conservation training and mentorship to improve their skills in wildlife conservation, corridors management and natural resources management reporting.

Twenty journalists will attend the two-day programme organised by the Journalists Environmental Association of Tanzania (JET) in Bagamoyo, Coast Region from today.

JET Executive Director, Mr John Chikomo told the ‘Daily News’ that the training would focus on combating illegal forest crime, combating wildlife crime, climate change, gender, and biodiversity conservation.

It is part of the Tuhifadhi Maliasili (Preserve Natural Resources) project which addresses threats to animal movement and biodiversity in Tanzania and is supported by the United States Agency for International Development USAID.

“Through training, journalists will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitude to be able to conduct investigative reporting on biodiversity conservation and climate change issues,” he noted.

Mr Chikomo said journalists are expected to attain the capacity and knowledge of corridor conservation issues to effectively investigate and analyse wildlife connectivity, marine and forest conservation, trafficking and poaching, and the promotion of wildlife conservation and tourism issues.

He said that apart from creating networks by linking journalists with conservation stakeholders at different levels, scribes will improve the quality of stories on corridors, wildlife connectivity and biodiversity conservation matters.

The project has interventions on some wildlife corridors including Kwakuchinja, Nyerere Selous — Udzungwa and Amani-Nilo corridors.