South Africa and Mozambique to sign Memorandum of Understanding in the Field Of Biodiversity, Conservation and Management

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, and the Mozambican Minister of Tourism, Mr Carvalho Muária, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the field of Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on 17 April 2014.

Mozambique is regarded as a priority country for South Africa within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and South Africa recognises the need for engaging with Mozambique on wildlife management. This is particularly with respect to addressing the scourge of rhino poaching within the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), as escalating incidences of poaching have become a major challenge within the GLTP to rhino populations.

The signing of the MOU between the two countries follows extensive negotiations, and less than a year since a bilateral meeting took place on 14 June 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique, between Minister Molewa and Minister Muária.

It was acknowledged at the June 2013 meeting that a government-to-government MOU on Cooperation in the field of Biodiversity, Conservation and Management was required to assist in addressing wildlife crimes, including rhino poaching.

The conclusion of the agreement comes as the number of rhino poached in South Africa since the start of 2014 increased to 277.  The number of alleged poachers arrested since January 1, 2014, has risen to 86.

A total of 166 rhino have been poached in the Kruger National Park, 34 in Limpopo, 32 in North West, and 24 in KwaZulu-Natal.

South Africa are urged to report incidents of poaching and tip-offs to the anonymous tip-off lines 0800 205 005, 08600 10111 or Crime-Line on 32211.

Rhino’s poached

Number of arrests

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