Africa-Press – Botswana. Professional guides have called on the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) to consider recruiting honorary wildlife officers to assist in managing of protected areas such as game reserves and national parks.
They pointed out that wildlife protected areas were a major tourist attraction and managing them was a demanding task, hence the need to reinforce the number of existing wildlife officers to effectively patrol the protected areas and ensure compliance to rules and regulations.
The call was made in response to a concern raised by Regional Wildlife Coordinator, Mr Dimakatso Ntshebe, that some guides disobeyed some park rules and regulations and ended up destroying the beauty of the environment.
The guides admitted that some of their colleagues and self-drive tourists blatantly ignored the rules, and suggested that honorary officers could help arrest the situation. They indicated that some professional guides and members of the public who are passionate about environmental conservation were willing to join forces with the department to manage the areas and ensure that there were no off-road trips which they blamed for land degradation in the protected areas.
They suggested an engagement with all stakeholders to find a lasting solution. Some tour operators also called on the department to look for ways to tackle climate change impact, citing that some water sources had dried up and animals were intruding into human settlements in search of water.
Mr Ntshebe emphasised that the rules were there protect both animals and their habitat, and observed that some guides had a tendency of driving off-road or trails to track game, something which is prohibited. While he appreciated some were taking the responsibility to obey the rules, he said there were others who frustrated the department’s efforts because they wanted to satisfy their clients. He warned the culprits that the law empowered the department to revoke the licences of those who broke the rules.
“Whether wildlife officers are on the ground or not, we bank on you as professional guides to take the responsibility and do the right thing and avoid damaging the habitat or disturbing wildlife,” Mr Ntshebe pleaded. He also complained that poaching was rife and underscored that the department could only curb the illegal activity with the support of professional guides. He promised to convene another meeting to discuss interventions that can be deployed to fight the vice and welcomed the idea to recruit honorary officers.
He appealed to all eligible and interested members of the public to register with his office noting that the law provided for appointment of fit and proper persons to be honorary officers, whose functions are to assist in the carrying out of the duties of wildlife with the same powers conferred on wildlife officers.
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