Itaye calls for community participation in natural resources conservation

Minister of Trade, Industrialisation, Business and Tourism Symon Itaye has called for increased community participation in the management and conservation of natural resources to promote tourism and protect national parks and game reserves.

Itaye made the call on Thursday in Lilongwe when he launched the Community-Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) forum.

He said the forum would help communities living around protected areas to work together with government and the private sector in conserving wildlife and other natural resources.

“Let’s look at community-based ways of managing natural resources. Let the people who reside along national parks and all protected areas be the people conserving animals together with the government and the private sector,” said Itaye.

He said the initiative would ensure that communities take ownership of natural resource management rather than leaving the responsibility entirely to government.

“We are trying to collaborate with the community and ensure that they are the ones managing the country’s natural resources,” he said.

Itaye said the community-based approach would strengthen the protection of wildlife and other natural resources.

“Going forward, our animals will be protected better than in the past because it will not only be government-led, but it will be community-based,” he said.

He said the forum would also create economic opportunities for communities through cooperatives involved in value addition.

“Communities are already forming cooperatives and producing honey from natural trees, which they sell. This is part of value addition,” said Itaye.

He added that proper conservation of natural resources would attract more tourists, resulting in increased economic benefits for surrounding communities.

“If we conserve our natural resources properly, we will attract a lot of tourists who will spend money, and the communities will benefit,” he said.

Itaye further encouraged young people and women to form cooperatives and participate in the honey value chain.

Meanwhile, CBNRM Board chairperson Wokomaatani Malunga said the forum would help protect national parks, game reserves and natural resources while benefiting communities living around protected areas.

Malunga said the exploitation of natural resources had increased, with people cutting down trees and killing animals for sale.

“Exploitation of natural resources is very high these days. People are carelessly cutting down trees and killing animals for sale, unlike in the past when such malpractice was minimal,” he said.

He added that the forum was working with traditional leaders to build confidence and strengthen community participation in the protection of natural resources across the country.

Forum member and Masalapa chairperson Lucy Kwelera said communities were already benefiting from natural resources through the initiative.

“We are benefiting from natural resources through the forum by making products such as jam and chidede juice, which we sell. This helps us take care of our families better than before,” said Kwelera.