Arusha - Green Customs Initiative

• There has been weak flow of communication between the Media and Customs Officials resulting
in each group working in isolation and lack in access to relevant and timely information – Both
journalists and customs officials are not well equipped in terms of knowledge on MEAs, and
especially illegal trade of environment commodities.
• Corruption and lack of political will in implementing and enforcement of the MEAs, and
controlling illegal trade of these commodities remain a challenge and we feel that these factors
together with poverty could have been given more attention during presentations, to strengthen
our analysis of these issues which usually get a lot of attention.
The Journalists noted the importance of the Green Customs Initiative in relating to the MDG for the purpose
of coherence as it is important that all these initiatives be streamlined, for a better perception.
In order to effectively disperse messages/support the initiative, the following recommendations were
formulated:
The Green Customs Initiative and the Secretariats of the related Conventions as well as UNEP should:
• Support the Production of a hand book for journalists on the Green Customs Initiative, including
highlights of all the related conventions as part of the follow-up to this workshop
• Further facilitate capacity building for the media (Editors/Media policy makers and Media
Gatekeepers, regional media networks, etc.)
• Share information materials including publications, updated information, reports with journalists
on a regular basis
• Support the implementation of activities under the media action plan for the promotion of the
Green Customs Initiative, when and if requested
Customs and other resource bodies should:
• Be available to Media and facilitate timely access to information
Governments should:
• Guarantee freedom to the media especially as the illegal trade in Environmental commodities
have far reaching ramifications
Journalists should:
• Develop a comprehensive contact list of resource persons with regard to the Green Customsrelated
conventions and other stakeholders
• In fighting poverty, continue to highlight issues affecting communities
• Link environmental stories to advocacy journalism
• Report objectively to attract attention, interest
• Point out gaps in legislations that hinder customs off from performance to the best of their ability
• Highlight case studies where communities have benefited
• Advocate for payment of ecosystem services
• In fighting corruption, Journalists should stick to professional ethics and advocate for a
better pay
The African Network of Environmental journalists (ANEJ) should:
• Build effective alliance with all the relevant stakeholders and other journalist networks in the
field of the environment in order to promote the Green customs initiative.
• Lead campaigns against dumping of obsolete equipments
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