§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what plans her Department has to tackle the trade in bushmeat; [25812]
(2) what funding (a) has been granted by her Department to projects connected to the trade in bushmeat in West and Central Africa in each year since 1999 and (b) is projected for (i) 2002, (ii) 2003 and (iii) 2004. [25808]
§ Hilary BennResponsibility for addressing the international trade in bushmeat lies with HM Customs and Excise, who implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
In this context, DFID is involved in various initiatives that contribute to the conservation of wild animals and their habitats (see Annexe 1). We fund projects and studies that address sustainable forest management and bushmeat production where this is key to tackling poverty. We currently fund three projects in West Africa with direct links to bushmeat. Part of the Mount Cameroon Project (MCP) is supporting local communities to manage forest resources sustainably; this accounts for an estimated £50,000 p.a. of the projects funds. The Cameroon
Annexe 1: Examples of DFID-supported bilateral projects, and research and studies, that have a strong focus on wildlife/bushmeat species Name of project Country Period of support Amount (£000) Mbomipa Community Wildlife Project Tanzania 1997–2001 1,973 Wildlife Intensification for Livelihood Development (WILD) Namibia 1999–2002 1,040 Madikwe Community Wildlife Management South Africa 1997–1999 622 Amboro Rural Development Bolivia 1996–2000 3,200 Mount Cameroon Project Cameroon 1995–2002 10,602 Community Forest Development Project Cameroon 1999–2002 1,049 Indonesian Multi-Stakeholder Indonesia 1998–2005 25,150 Cross River State Community Forestry Project Nigeria 1996–2001 2,000 Forest Sector Development Project Phase II Ghana 2000–04 11,963 Joint-funding scheme with WWF: Gashaka-Gumpti/Kupe Nigeria/Cameroon 1991–2001 6,289 Coastal forests/Bogoria/Udzungwa Kenya/Tanzania 1990–2001 Kunene/Caprivi Namibia 1998–2001 Mamiraua/Varzea Brazil 1991–2000 Studies and research: Livestock-wildlife interactions Africa 1997–2001 575 Illegal hunting in Serengeti NP Tanzania 1997–2000 Bushmeat in rural livelihoods of West Africa Ghana/Cameroon 2000–02
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions her Department has held with representatives of African Governments regarding the trade in bushmeat. [25786]
§ Hilary BennWe fund two bilateral projects in Cameroon related to the issue of bushmeat. Since 1995, the Mount Cameroon Project team has been working closely with the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Forests to establish field level community management of timber and wildlife resources. The Community Forestry Development Project in Cameroon has been drawing on this experience to help communities manage their wildlife resources under the Forest Law. We also assisted with discussions with the Government of Cameroon over the preparation of an Emergency Action Plan following the 1999 Yaounde Heads of State Declaration, which840W Community Forestry Development Project has been assisting government to develop protocols for community timber management; now that these are in place, the project team is working to establish community wildlife protocols for sustainable bushmeat harvesting. Both projects will finish this year, though we expect to contribute to a forestry sector programme in 2003, which will include a substantial community natural resource management element.
In Ghana we are funding the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) to undertake research into bushmeat production, and particularly into the distribution of the value of bushmeat between producers and traders and how this affects poverty. This study will be completed in 2002, when we will consider the value of an extension into at least one other West African country in 2003–04, with estimated funding of £50,000 to £100,000 p.a.
DFID also supports some 155 initiatives in developing countries to help them manage their forests sustainably, and is also working to help reduce illegal logging. These initiatives promote sustainable forest management and thereby should have an indirect positive impact on wildlife. DFID's main efforts are directed at combating illegal logging at source and addressing the other underlying causes of poor forest management, since most illegally harvested timber (up to 80 per cent, in some countries) is consumed domestically.
included measures to ensure that an EC-funded road maintenance project did not lead to unsustainable harvesting of forest and wildlife resources.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has held with logging and mining companies operating in West and Central Africa that operate in areas of high bushmeat trade. [25807]
§ Hilary BennThrough our country office in Cameroon we have been holding a series of ad hoc discussions with logging company representatives on how to promote sustainable forest management. These discussions recently culminated in a workshop to review a draft logging manual that pulls together the diverse pieces of legislation into a single coherent text, that the private sector and government can then apply.
841WIn the upcoming few months we will be financing further specific meetings with logging companies in the context of preparing for a Forest and Environment Sector Programme.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the impact Department-funded infrastructure projects in West and Central Africa have on the trade in bushmeat; [25819]
(2) what mitigation measures are taken to prevent the trade in bushmeat on Department-funded infrastructure projects; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness. [25815]
§ Hilary BennOur Department's procedures require that any new infrastructure project be screened for its potential impact on the environment. If initial screening indicates that the project could have significant impacts on the environment, then further investigation such as Environmental Analysis or a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be undertaken. All projects funded by this Department must comply with in-country guidelines or legislation. While we check the need for an EIA and the adequacy of them where they are required, the assessment itself is often financed and carried out by others.
With regard to bushmeat, we held intensive discussions with the Government of Cameroon over the preparation of an Emergency Action Plan following the 1999 Yaounde Heads of State Declaration, which included measures to ensure that an EC-funded road maintenance project did not lead to unsustainable harvesting of forest and wildlife resources.