African Wildlife Foundation CEO Kaddu Sebunya addresses journalists in
Dar es Salaam today
African Wildlife Foundation CEO Kaddu Sebunya (left), addresses journalists in
Dar es Salaam today about the need to protect the environment even as the country
develops and urbanises.
The government must invest in protecting
natural resources in Tanzania, the head of an international conservation
organization has said.
Speaking to journalists in Dar Es Salam,
MrKadduSebunya, the Chief Executive Officer of African Wildlife Foundation,
urged the Tanzania government to budget more money for environmental
conservation given the modern day pressure that Tanzania’s wildlife and
wildlands are experiencing today.
“Our natural resources are today under severe
threat from population growth, climate change and emerging infrastructure which
are realities that we cannot run away from. What we need to do as Africans is
invest more resources in our forests, savanna wildlands and water sources to
ensure that they are well protected for our benefits today and for future
generations,” he said.
MrSebunya stressed that Africa’s development
hinges in its natural resources, noting that the natural environment is
integral in food production and in maintaining life on earth as we know it.
“Asking Africa to choose between conservation
and development is a false choice. We must have both. All we need to do is
carefully plan our roads, dams and railways to ensure that they do not
jeopardize the natural ecosystem,” he said.
International organisations among them the United Nations have recently sounded more warnings
about climate change, linking it to human activity that has resulted in the
destruction of environment and the production of more greenhouse gases per
capita.
The UN
on Monday this week declared 2021-2030 the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration,
saying that it will mobilise political and financial support speed
up restoration work to address the severe degradation of landscapes, including
wetlands and aquatic ecosystems, worldwide. More than 2 billion hectares of
land across the world are targeted for restoration.
About one third of the land area in Tanzania
is protected, providing natural habitat for scores of species across national
parks and community wildlife management areas. However, the country still faces
land use problems common to other parts of Africa which have led to soil
degradation and eventual loss of biodiversity.
“Tanzania is doing better than a lot of other
countries and is currently home to the largest population of lions in the
world. Land use planning must however be high on Tanzania’s priorities to
ensure that the country has enough land for socio-economic development and
nature conservation,” said MrSebunya.
About African Wildlife Foundation
The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the primary
advocate for the protection of wildlife and wild lands as an essential part of
a modern and prosperous Africa. Founded in 1961 to focus on Africa's unique
conservation needs, we articulate a uniquely African vision, bridge science and
public policy and demonstrate the benefits of conservation to ensure the
survival of the continent's wildlife and wild lands.
About
KadduSebunya
Mr. KadduKiweSebunya is the Chief Executive
Officer of African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). He has over 20 years’
experience in conservation at grassroots, national and regional levels in the
USA, Africa, and Europe.
Kaddu has worked with Oxfam UK, the World
Conservation Union - IUCN, USA Peace Corps, Conservation International, and Solimar
International.
Kaddu is
a member of the China-Africa Wildlife Conservation Council, a group of civil
society and business leaders convened by the African Wildlife Foundation and
the Aspen Institute to serve as a people-to-people platform for supporting
China-Africa cooperation on wildlife and wildlands conservation, sustainable
economic development, and governance. He is also a member of the Club of Rome and contributes frequently
to newspapers in Africa, Europe and the USA.
Kaddu has a Bachelor’s degree in Social
Sciences and two Master’s degrees: An MA in Law, Policy and Diplomacy from The
Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA; and an MSc in Sustainable Resource
Management and Policy (Imperial - Wye College, University of London).
For enquiries, contact:
Jacqueline
Kubania
Communications
and Advocacy specialist
African
Wildlife Foundation
+254 728 006
09
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