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1st Quarter 2010 Newsletter: March 2010
Anti-Poaching
Selection and Training
On 1 February 2010, the FCF anti-poaching division welcomed Mr. Ruben de Kock and Mr. Theo Landman of the African Field Ranger Training Services (www.afrts.co.za) to our Lake Natron concession. Ruben and Theo were called upon to put our anti-poaching field staff through a rigorous selection course and evaluation, followed by a basic field training course. Of the 76 rangers who were put thru their paces (4 additional rangers were excused due to injury/illness) just twenty men passed the selection stage. While this may appear to be a high attrition rate, we view it as an indication of the overall quality of our ranger corps. It is our sincere hope that these 20 men will be the foundation upon which we build the anti-poaching program in the years to come.
An additional 40 rangers were invited back (on probation) to attend the training course, which covered topics such as the role of the field ranger, patrol techniques, observation points, listening points, distance sighting, orders, patrol planning, aspects of Tanzanian wildlife law, arrest procedures, self-defense and minimum force techniques. In the near future we will conduct another selection course and evaluation in order to build our numbers back to the desired eighty personnel.
We at FCF would like to thank Ruben and Theo and the AFRTS for helping us establish a new ethos and standard by which our anti-poaching field staff will be measured by. It is our expectation that this will in turn result in a higher level of efficacy in our fight against poaching in Tanzania.
First Aid Training
FCF patrol commanders attended a 2-day (14 hour) first aid training course conducted by Samantha Roberts on the 15th and 16th of February. Areas that were covered include:
- Artificial respiration
- Cardiac resuscitation
- Shock
- Wound management
- Bandaging, splinting and immobilization techniques
- Heat related illnesses
- Snake bites
Great fun was had with moulage kits in order to make scenarios realistic!
Instructor Sam Roberts said that she “found the commanders as a whole to be calm and well organized with all aspects of the training”. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of anti-poaching work, training such as this will prove invaluable and could realistically save a life. Many, many thanks to Sam – we look forward to refresher courses in the future.
Community Development
The first quarter of 2010 has flown by fast. FCF Community Development has been busy with monitoring and assessing several project including the Student Sponsorship, Clinics, Tree Nursery, Beekeeping, and VICOBA projects in several areas across Tanzania.
Mzuri Wildlife Foundation Tree Project
Since the beginning of the school year and the onset of the rains the tree nursery project has been in full swing. The project is being carried out over three Districts in thirty schools (both secondary and primary schools), one village environmental conservation group in Uvinza Village and the Kibondo District Forest Department.
Overall the project is proving to be successful in getting students involved in environmental activities and in planting trees on their campuses and at home. The project has had varying levels of success in different schools depending on the level of student motivation and the responsiveness of the teachers to get involved and help oversee and guide the student initiative.
In expectation of the long rains the second phase of planting will start in April, 2010. We are planning to start as soon as possible this year so as to prepare as many tree seedlings as possible. During the first phase which started just before November rains the groups sowed tree seeds that grow fast in order to transplant as early as possible. In the first phase of planting the project has successfully transplanted over 50,000 seedlings.
Village Community Banks (VICOBAs)
The FCF Village Community Banks (VICOBAs) project in 12 communities near to the Moyowosi and Kizigo/Muhesi Game Reserves is also proceeding well. After the initial 16 weeks of training the VICOBAs have started to disburse micro loans to their members for a variety of income generating activities including small kiosks selling household groceries and goods, buying and selling cash and food crops including honey, corn, beans, cassava, salt, sale of goats, poultry and vegetable projects and group tree nursery projects.
The groups of 20-40 members have already grown impressively in the first few months and some have over $4,000 in circulation. FCF is continuing to support the groups through technical guidance and training and we are looking for ways to build capacity and encourage growth.
Beekeeping Support
In October FCF started implementation of a project to support 3 beekeeping groups in Manyoni District near the Kizigo/Muhesi Game Reserves with modern hives, equipment and beekeeping training. The beekeepers have received training from the District Beekeeping Officer on the use of Langstroth hives and in setting up a proper apiary.
Selected members of the groups have received a hive as loans to be repaid to support other beekeepers in the group/village. We have received positive reports so far with a high level of hive colonization and we expect that the groups will begin harvesting in June or July.
Based on the successes and challenges faced in this project FCF is looking to replicate and improve the model in a similar project in Kasulu and Kigoma in the next few months.
Student Sponsorship
With the beginning of the school year in January FCF continued its commitment to supporting our sponsor students from the villages in the project areas. We are currently working hard to get reports prepared for our sponsors.
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