The German government has donated six brand-new Toyota Landcruiser single-cab, all-wheel drive vehicles to the Tanzanian Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) to boost its anti-poaching capabilities in the Selous Game Reserve (SGR) in the south of the country.
The vehicles were handed over to Tanzanian Natural Resources and Tourism minister Professor Jumanne Maghembe by German Ambassador to Tanzania Egon Kochanke during the recent launch of the Selous Ecosystem Conservation and Development Programme, also known SECAD.
Through the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), the German government is funding the SECAD programme to the tune of 18 million euros. Konchanke said the programme was aimed at effectively conserving the SGR and its wider ecosystem while addressing threats to its status as a World Heritage site.
Implementing partners include TAWA, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS). Minister Magembe thanked Germany for supporting species and ecosystems conservation efforts in Tanzania.
“We greatly welcome the German government’s engagement in the protection of the Selous. SECAD provides a firm basis for the protection of the Selous natural resources for the benefit of the country, adjacent communities and Tanzania’s natural heritage,” he said.
Ambassador Kochanke said Germany remains committed to supporting Tanzanian efforts to protect the Selous from threats that include wildlife poaching, human encroachment and poverty in its buffer zones.
The 18 million euro project funding will cover the next five-years. Apart from patrol vehicles, the German government has donated aircraft to support Tanzania’s anti-poaching and wildlife conservation efforts.
