LATF CO-ORGANIZE WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP IN TANZANIA

During 20th -22nd January 2010, Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), Tanzania Wildlife Division (TWD) and Interpol General Secretariat co-organized an inter agency wildlife law enforcement awareness workshop in Dar es Salaam Tanzania. The workshop that drew 30 participants from 13 different institutions was held in fulfillment of the LATF’s mandate as provided in the Lusaka Final Act and LATF’s Strategic Plan concerning building capacities; facilitate co-operation and collaboration of the Law Enforcement Agencies in fighting illegal trade in wild fauna and flora at national, regional and international levels.

The participants at the workshop noted with concern the alarming frequency and volumes of seizures of wildlife specimens indicating originating from and or transported through Tanzania. They further, noted the need for concerted efforts and networking to effectively curtail illegal trade in wildlife specimens. As the result, the workshop recommended for the Government to consider, as a matter of urgency, establishing a forum (standing committee or taskforce) that will involve relevant stakeholders to address the escalating problem of illegal trade in wildlife specimens.

Workshop partiipants in a group photo