Central Africa draws up new conservation plan
26th November 2011
Eight countries have joined forces to strengthen national wildlife laws in Central Africa, in a bid to tackle illegal poaching and wildlife trade in the region
Representatives from eight Central African countries met last week in Douala, Cameroon to finalise a five-year action plan that aims to strengthen national wildlife laws in the region. The countries agreed to work together to tackle illegal poaching and wildlife trade in the region through a series of collaborative steps.
Key issues raised during the meeting included the need for collaboration between law enforcers and prosecution authorities in each of the countries, the introduction of more effective deterrents and criminal prosecution, higher security at key border and transit points, and overall increased awareness of conservation issues.
Primary threats to Central African wildlife include poaching, commercial bush-meat trade, habitat degradation and climate change. Species that will benefit from the new action plan could include both the endangered mountain gorilla and chimpanzee, and the iconic African elephant, as well as many more.
Delegates from the Central Africa Forest Commission (COMIFAC), including Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Cameroon took part in the meeting.
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