November
30 November - Zimbabwe urges international aid to clear landmines… Zimbabwe urgently needs international assistance to clear landmines to enable operationalization of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), a government official has said. Permanent Secretary for Defense Trust Maphosa was quoted by New Ziana on Sunday saying that the country required assistance to clear a 70 kilometer stretch of minefield from the Sango Border Post to the Crooks Corner in the vast Gonarezhou National Park. From: China View
26 November - Farmers urged to put in place measures to conserve top soil… The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union says farmers should ensure that they put in place measures to conserve the top soil which has rich nutrients critical for plant growth. The union’s Director Mr Phillip Tavuyanago said the traditional practice of making contour ridges is important in conserving the soil and reducing erosion. From: ZBC News
22 November - Meeting held to review environmental education progs’ success… Environment organizations from the SADC region met in Chimoi Mozambique to review the success of environmental education programmes held throughout the year. It emerged that more still needs to be done to capacitate environmental organizations so that their programmes can be useful in the protection of the environment. From: ZBC News
21 November - Measures put in place to stop anthrax spread – Nhema… The Minister of Environment and Tourism Cde Francis Nhema says the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the veterinary services staff have put in place measures to reduce the spread of anthrax which has killed 88 hippos and 18 buffaloes in the Gachegache area of Kariba. From: ZBC News
20 November - Elephant conservation in Zimbabwe… The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority wishes to set the record straight on misconceptions about the state of elephant conservation in Zimbabwe. The current national population is about 100,000 with an average growth rate of 5%. Hwange National Park and its environs hold about 50,000, Mid-Zambezi Valley, Sebungwe and the South East Lowveld hold 30,000, 15,000 and 5,000 respectively. These figures are based on aerial surveys undertaken jointly by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). From: The Zimbabwean
19 November - Chiefs Launch ‘Save Zambezi’ Campaign… Concerned that its people, wildlife and natural heritage are under unparalled and imminent threat from mining activities, 17 chiefdoms in the Zambezi basin from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have come together to call for urgent action, that of saving the Great Zambezi. From: AllAfrica.com
18 November - Wildlife officials at UN-backed meeting seek to protect rhinos against surge in poaching… Wildlife law enforcement officials are meeting in Kenya as part of a United Nations-backed effort to stop the escalation of rhinoceros poaching and break up criminal networks behind the increasing illegal trade in their horns, used in traditional medicines or as dagger handles. From: UN News Centre
14 November - Vietnam embassy in rhino row… A Vietnamese embassy staff member has allegedly been caught red-handed on film in an illegal rhinoceros horn transaction in front of the embassy building in Pretoria. The footage was captured by the SABC’s nature investigations programme, 50/50, two months ago at a time when conservationists fear that the rhino wars of the Eighties are flaring up again. From: Mail & Guardian Online
12 November - Grim Harvest Predictions… It rained in most parts of Zimbabwe last week, signalling the official start of the planting season in this troubled country. Most farmers here start putting the maize seed in the ground during the first week of November to take advantage of the start of the rains. But agricultural experts told IWPR the lashing downpours, which came after a serious heat wave, would count for nothing, as the Harare government was ill-prepared for taking advantage of it. From: Institute for War & Peace Reporting
10 November - Ivory Auctions Rake in Millions… The once-off ivory auctions in the four southern African countries including Namibia have netted in US$15.4 million. The four countries – Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa – combined had 102 tonnes stockpiled ivory, which was auctioned to Japanese and Chinese registered traders between October 28 and November 6. From: New Era
10 November – ZImbabwe “bartered ivory for guns”… Our fears that the one-off ivory auction by four southern Africa states to China and Japan was not going to end well may come true. Not that that is any cause for us to wear a smirk and say “we told you so”, but a time for us to ask CITES to open their eyes. From: Baraza Wildlife Direct
9 November - Ivory auctions will undercut poachers: UN… A controversial series of legal ivory auctions in southern Africa should undercut poachers who have been charging exorbitant prices in key Asian markets, United Nations conservationists said Friday. From: AFP
9 November - Ivory auctions raise 15.4-million for elephant conservation: CITES… A one-off auction of stockpiled ivory in four southern African countries raised 15,4 million dollars (12 million euros) for elephant conservation, an international watchdog said Friday. From: AFP
7 November - Zim barters 3.5 tonnes of ivory for guns… The 3.5 tonnes of ivory sold for over US$450,000 by the bankrupt Zimbabwe regime of Robert Mugabe to Chinese buyers in Harare on Monday is thought to have been part payment for military hardware set to be flown into the Zimbabwean capital soon, top official sources said. From: The Zim Daily
6 November - Ivory auctions raise about $15 million in Africa… Controversial ivory auctions – the first in nearly a decade – have sold just over 100 tons of tusks to Chinese and Japanese traders, and raised nearly $15 million for elephant conservation. From: TMCnet.com
6 November - South Africa auctions ivory, wildlife group protests… South Africa on Thursday sold 47 tonnes of elephant ivory for $6.7 million, under the first series of U.N.-approved auctions in almost a decade. From: Reuters
6 November - ‘Zim govt to revisit mining legislation’… The Government of Zimbabwe has been urged to revisit mining rights so as to enable the country to benefit from the very lucrative industry. The call was made by the former Zimbabwean Ambassador to China, Chris Mutsvangwa. From: The Zimbabwe Guardian
5 November - Richard Leakey Statement: Ivory Auctions a Disservice to Conservation… I am deeply concerned about the ongoing one-off ivory auction that started on 28 October in Namibia and ends on Wednesday, 6 November 2008 in South Africa. I have spent many years looking at issues of elephant conservation and ivory trade and played a major role in successfully eliminating the massive ivory poaching that characterized what is considered the darkest period for African elephants in Kenya in the late 1980s, I believe that auctioning the ivory stockpiles would cause poaching to increase particularly in the central, eastern and western African elephant range states where poaching is not yet properly controlled. From: WildEles (Blog)
5 November - CITES ivory sale will increase poaching and illegal trade… Renowned Kenyan conservationist, Dr Richard Leakey, founding Chairman or WildlifeDirect, denounces the ongoing CITES-sanctioned one-off auctions of ivory stockpiles. He says the auction will open up the market for illegal ivory and result in poaching. He condemns the inclusion of China, the largest destination for illegal ivory, into the legal ivory trade. From: Telegraph.co.uk
4 November - How is Zim raising money for conservation?… The sale of almost four tons of ivory by Zimbabwe on Monday raised $450 000 (about R4,5-million) for conservation in a country whose economic crisis has left authorities battling to maintain vast reserves and protect elephants, rhinos and other game. The sale, which was held in the capital, Harare, is part of series of ivory auctions being held for the first time in a decade. From: IOL (South Africa)
4 November - US$487 000 raised from ivory auction… 3,8 tonnes of ivory worth US$487 000 were sold yesterday at a special auction conducted exclusively for Chinese and Japanese buyers in Harare. The ivory was collected as off-takes from the Parks and Wildlife Management and communal areas under the Campfire project. From: ZBC News
4 November - Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust takes off… The Wild Horizons Wildlife Trust is a non-profit organisation created to rehabilitate orphaned or injured elephant and other wildlife, promote conservation and conserve the natural environment. At the same time the Trust endeavours to educate, assist and empower local communities. From: Travelwires.com
3 November - Zimbabwe raises US$450 000 from ivory sale… Zimbabwean officials say they have sold almost 4 tons of ivory for over $450,000 and the money will go to the country’s cash-strapped wildlife authorities. From: Newzimbabwe.com
3 November - Zimbabwe auctions four tonnes of ivory to China, Japan… Zimbabwe on Monday sold nearly four tonnes of ivory for almost half a million dollars, the third in a set of four auctions approved under an international agreement, an animal welfare body said. The auction, open only to buyers from China and Japan, sold 3.7 tonnes of ivory for 487,162 dollars (380,268 euros), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) said in a statement. From: IC Publications
3 November - Zimbabwe to open one-off ivory auction… Zimbabwe is set to benefit from the sale of ivory to China and Japan in auctions which opened on Tuesday in Namibia. The auctions will move every three days through Botswana, Zimbabwe and finally South Africa from October 28 and 30 and November 3 and 6 respectively. The United Nations’ Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) has allowed the country to sell elephant ivory in a one-off trade, skirting a ban on dealing in the product until 2016. From: Business Weekly
3 November - Ministry To Reveal Ivory Sale Secrets Today… The Ministry of Wildlife, Environment and Tourism has said it will release details of what transpired at the one-off auction of 44 tonnes of ivory stockpile at the prestigious Phakalane Golf Estate Resort today. From: Mmegi Online (Botswana)
2 November - Massive looting at Kusile RDC… Amakhosi Artistic director and Kusile Rural District Councillor, Cont Mhlanga has made stunning revelations of alleged wanton looting and abuse of royalties and plunder of Communal Area Management and Protection for Indigenous Resources (Campfire) proceeds by the District Council employees, a development which has left villagers wallowing in poverty. From: Sunday News
1 November - Conservation farming project effective – ZCFU… The Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union says the conservation farming project which was started in Mashonaland central has proved effective in maintaining soil fertility and improving yields her hectare. From: ZBC News
1 November - Botswana auctions 44 tonnes of ivory… Botswana auctioned 44 tonnes of ivory Friday to buyers from China to Japan at a luxurious resort, officials said, in a closed-door sale expected to rake in millions of dollars. From: AFP
