Development of Sustainable Forest Use Strategies - Eastern Arc ...

in Tanzania, as well as those exotic species that have been introduced in Tanzania,
and that are temporarily maintained in captivity or have become established in the
wild” (MNRT, 1998b:38).
Stated Economic Uses
WPT lists game viewing (photographic tourism), tourist (or trophy or sport) hunting,
resident hunting (licensed hunting for meat by residents), ranching, farming and live
animal trade as the recognized forms of wildlife utilization allowed in mainland
Tanzania. The Wildlife Division is responsible for issuing hunting and capturing
permits for wildlife occurring in forest reserves (MNRT, 1998b:5). Before holders of
such permits can legally hunt or capture wild animals in forest reserves they must
seek and obtain entry permits from the Director of Forestry and Beekeeping (URT,
2002:1251). The Forestry and Beekeeping Division (FBD) and not the Wildlife
Division (WD) can introduce and conduct game viewing in forest reserves.
Also, WPT permits small-scale animal cropping by rural communities practising
community-based conservation (CBC). Generally, it is understood that CBC is
supposed to be practised on village lands and where possible, on general lands. It is
not known, therefore, if this could be extended to neighbouring forest reserves.
Degree of Allowable Economic Uses
No specific bag limits are set by WPT for consumptive use of wild animals in forest
reserves or anywhere. However, the policy promotes sustainable utilization quotas
on a scientific basis and monitoring of wildlife populations that are consumptively
utilized (MNRT, 1998b:22). Also, it exercises control of wildlife utilization activities
(p.23). The quotas are set annually per species per specified area (hunting block).
3.1.2.2 Wildlife Conservation Act No. 12 of 1974
The main focus of the Wildlife Conservation Act No. 12 of 1974 (WCA) is on
creation, protection and management of game reserves, game controlled areas and
partial game reserves and control of use of wildlife and other natural resources
therein (URT, 1974). Forest reserves are not part of these. However, §17 gives
powers to the Minister responsible for wildlife, by order in the government gazette, to
prohibit, restrict or regulate hunting, killing or capture of any animal or class of
animals in any area of Tanganyika (mainland Tanzania) in certain periods of the
year. Such a period is termed as close season. Currently the close season runs from
January 1 to June 30 and the open (hunting) season is from July 1 to December 31
each year. Also, the Director of Wildlife is given powers to kill or authorise the killing
of any animal in any place outside national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area (§52).
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