size: 5036KB - Crocodile Specialist Group

CFAZ CIIAIRMAN'S OPENING COMMENTS FOR THE IlTh WORKING
MEETING AT THE IUCN/SSC CROCODILE SPECIALIST GROUP
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all here today, atrd my fist task must be
thank tlose of you who have tavelled around the world to be here. We have over
150 delegates from 27 countries outside Zimbabwe, which is good considedng the
tough economic times we live in.
My next task must be to thank our Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism for
finding the time in his busy schedule to be with us to participate in the formal
opening. You will be hearing from him in a moment.
We are also pleased to have with us the Director and other officials ftom the
Depa ment of National Parks, with whom we have a very close relationship, the
Chairman of the Campfire Association, the members of which provide much of our
crocodile egg resource, the Regional Director of the IUCN, the Mayor of Victoria
Falls and, of course, our local Chief
who will be guamlteeirg the success of the meeting by giving us a traditional African
blessing.
Those of you who were here 10 years ago will know that this is the second CSG
meeting in the Victoria Falls that I have hosted as Chairman of the Zimbabwe
Farmers and I sincerely hope that this meeting is as successful as the last and that
our hospitality comes up to the same standard.
We have organised a very full itinemry both in the conference rooms and on the
social side and I hope that you will all take full advantage of our organisation and
facilities.
If all goes to plan it promises to be a very constructive, rewarding and enjoyable
If there is anything we can do for you, or if you need assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact the Secretariat who wjll see what they can do.
On the crocodile side, we have made immense progress since the last CSG meeting
was held in Zimbabwe. We certainly do not have all the answers, but we know a gr€at
deal more about Nile crocodile biology, coDsewation and management.
Over 85 scientific papers on crocodiles have originated in Zirrbabwe, many of these
since 1982 and over this sho pedod our industry has glown from an output of 4000
skins a year to 30000, allowing us to invest much more heavily in research. Inst year
over 307o of our Associations budget went into research, much of it ilr suppoting
Government's programme.