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5/12/1982 - Wildlife Management Aids Rural Development by Bowden S. Quinn

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS BSQ May fildlife Management Pural Development Bowden Quinn Harare Zimbabwe District Councillor Charles Jirl think elephant useless beast Now I would nurse animal health Jiri change heart result government program enables rural communities benefit animals around Jiri distr receivcd thousands dollars revenue killing elephants other The effect program especially noticeable severe drought brought filures shortages Zimbabwe Chief Warden Barry Ball Department National Parks Wild Life drought poaching arenas where Zimbabe population lives After harvest farmers money killing nimal throuL season But Ball I guarantee level poaching northwest lower because people animals bringing money The government program mainly benefits people living lightly populated couunal areas northern western southern borders where animals The results comein northwest region where program began Poachin there almost disappeared Councillor Jiri northwestern district received US wildlife revenues His council using money build health clinics For several years government wanted local comunities benefit their wildlii No effective policy could implemented during Seventies country called Rhodesia because guerrdlla against white minority rural peace independen years Prime Minister Robert Mugabe governneut started iving local councils revenues frown hunting communal lands Pro essional hunters right aninals government costs overseas visito substantial amounts their trophies A I which killed Another govern policy Operation Windfall In program govenment distributes locally elephants killed communal areas Local councils proceeds elephants ivory hides Bowden Quinn Overseas Journalisr Fellow Institute studying socialism southern Afric BSQ Previously government market revenues wildlife department which still happens elephants killed national parks The wildlife department local district councils total ldlife revenues which money these councils their lives according Richard Pitman department Reports about killing African whose numbers dwindled raise outcry quarters regulated prevent deaths greater numbers consequence overpopulation Also uncontrolled populations bring animals conflict farmers As rural Africans regard animals competitors wildlife danger Limited hunting controls animal populations Elephants natural predators killed regular large scale basis The wildlife department kills average elephants mostly national parks though number fluctuates changing conditions The elephants killed otect terrain Zimbabwe between elephants which probably times century Pitma estimates Elephants destroy trees great ecological damage multiply unchecked Pitman government policy brought remarkable change rural people attitudes toward animals Before villagers thought animals pests could damage crops threaten lives They angry watching government officers white tourists shooting villagers would killing Now rural people animals source income worth protecting Department officials talked creating reserves heavily populated areas center country Such reserves could safeguard against drought induced famine because animals areas uuder conditions unsuitable farming cattle raising This reached planning stage If become project ompleti0n would still years The first Pitman would teach people animals until population grown enough culling At might considered toughest The results government policy shown traditional views animals change quickly people their interests stake Received Hanover