Topic > Poaching before and after independence

Most protected areas in Africa share common characteristics such as lower support from the local communities living around them and historical shortcomings in public relations (Kideghesho et al., 2006). The demotion of natives through conventional conservation policies and laws enacted by colonial governments and later ceded to postcolonial governments endorsed this situation as they ended all their customary rights and management approaches (Campbel et al., 2001) . Natives were not only excluded from any political discussions relating to wildlife conservation issues (Gibson and Marks 1995), but also from hunting socio-economic status species such as antelope, buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). (Kideghesho et al., 2006). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Local people were forcibly expelled from their land as enacted policies considered them a problem in conservation initiatives, so the fences and fines approach was introduced (Tumer and Hulmer, 1997). Local people expected that after independence the postcolonial government would restore their lost customary rights, but because they needed economic support they continued to embrace colonial policies, so this justified their resentment towards natural resources (Neuman,2002; Nelson ,2003). They broke the laws and poached wild animals to unsustainable levels, which prompted the Tanzanian government to take harsher measures against people who did not respect the laws, but did not stop the illegal activities (Bonner,1993; Neuman (2002).the situation was worse as Tanzania's natural resources sector received only 1.2% of the national development budget, this underfunding was due to the economic recession that many African countries went through (Kideghesho, 2006). led to poor staffing and inadequate equipment. This accelerated the rate of poaching and the animals most affected were the rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) and the elephant (Loxodonta Africana) (Wasser et al., 2007). brink of extinction and the elephant population reduced by 80% in a ten-year period from 1975 to 1986 (Baldus et al., 2003; Dublin and Hamilton, 1987). fines, which led to the adoption of a community approach to natural resource management. The approach recognizes the importance of local communities to conservation initiatives, although it faces many challenges that prevent illegal hunting from being put to an end. One of the great challenges is that the benefits produced by this approach do not offset those of illegal hunting (Gadd, 2005). Recently the Tanzanian government, along with the community-based natural resource approach, has introduced a paramilitary approach by law enforcement units and other workers. from the natural resources sector receives military training to combat poaching (Kideghesho,2006). However, this is still not enough to combat poaching and lead the Tanzanian government to make serious efforts to contain this problem through the implementation and enforcement of the Wildlife Law (Ogden et al., 2009). Law enforcement patrols attempt to control illegal hunting, but the expected economic benefits from the sale of bushmeat are far greater than the costs associated with a low probability of arrest due to the lack of valid forensic evidence (Hofer et al.., 2000).