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UK MPs URGE YOUNG PARLIAMENTARIANS IN MALAWI TO COMMIT TO CONSERVATION

Published by the British Government here UK Members of Parliament have this week joined their Malawian counterparts to urge more young parliamentarians to engage in wildlife conservation issues. The delegation were visiting Malawi from the UK as part of a training programme on issues-based campaigning and youth engagement, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which […]

Published by the British Government here

 From left to right: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Lanark & Hamilton East), Liam McArthur (MSP Scottish Lib Dems), Beatrice Mateyo Mkanda (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Kate Osamor (Labour, Edmonton and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development), Oliver Colvile (Conservative, Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport), Jonny Vaughan (Executive Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust), Chiza Manda (Deputy Director, Department of National Parks & Wildlife), Susan Lukhere (Project Manager, Citizens for Justice), Hellen Chabunya (Head of Political and Public Affairs, Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Hon Alex Major (co-chair Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus and MP, Kasungu West)
From left to right: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Lanark & Hamilton East), Liam McArthur (MSP Scottish Lib Dems), Beatrice Mateyo Mkanda (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Kate Osamor (Labour, Edmonton and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development), Oliver Colvile (Conservative, Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport), Jonny Vaughan (Executive Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust), Chiza Manda (Deputy Director, Department of National Parks & Wildlife), Susan Lukhere (Project Manager, Citizens for Justice), Hellen Chabunya (Head of Political and Public Affairs, Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Hon Alex Major (co-chair Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus and MP, Kasungu West)

UK Members of Parliament have this week joined their Malawian counterparts to urge more young parliamentarians to engage in wildlife conservation issues.

The delegation were visiting Malawi from the UK as part of a training programme on issues-based campaigning and youth engagement, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, which also included a wildlife conservation briefing hosted by the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and the Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (MPCC).

Hon. Alex Major, MPCC co-chair and MP for Kasungu West, said, “So many factors, from human health and agriculture to our water and energy supplies, rely on the protection and sustainable use of our natural resources.  It is ultimately one of the greatest challenges we face, and we as opinion leaders and representatives of our constituencies need to ensure conservation is prioritised.” He added, “We hope that more young parliamentarians join the MPCC with a view to become tomorrow’s conservation ambassadors.” 

The MPCC was launched on in August 2015 by His Excellency the President, Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, as a multiparty coalition of MPs committed to conservation and natural resource-based economic growth. Participation is open to any member of parliament, with over 40 members from all represented parties.   Work has included support for both amendments to the Environment Bill the National Parks & Wildlife Act, both of which are expected to be tabled in Parliament next month. 

Speaking on behalf of the UK delegation, Olive Colvile, Conservative MP for Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport, said, “It is really very encouraging to hear how members of different parties are coming together to tackle pressing conservation issues with the bigger picture in mind, especially when it comes to wildlife crime. “Our visit to Malawi has focused on strengthening capacity and the engagement of youth through the National Assembly, and we wholeheartedly encourage that young parliamentarians to join the MPCC as a platform for learning and action.”

Colville added, “We also learnt a great deal about the progressive work that Malawi government and its NGO partners are embarking in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, and we look forward to following news on this in the coming months.”

Lilongwe Wildlife Trust’s Executive Director, Jonathan Vaughan, said, “We are strong advocates for the work of the MPCC, and we would like to thank the visiting UK Members of Parliament for their interest in and support for wildlife conservation in Malawi”. 

Malawi Government has responded with several initiatives including the country’s first specialised multi-agency Wildlife Crime Investigations Unit, with funds provided through the British Government’s DFID Challenge Fund via Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and IFAW. 60 arrests for wildlife trafficking have been made since June, 16 of whom have been sent to prison for up to 14 years. The Amendment Bill for the National Parks and Wildlife Act is expected to come to Parliament in November which will further strengthen penalties and act as a deterrent for would-be wildlife criminals.

Malawi was recently named as a ‘country of primary concern’ for its role as a major transit hub in the illegal ivory trade in a recent report published by TRAFFIC and ETIS (Elephant Trade Information System), alongside Togo, Malaysia and Singapore.

 From left to right: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Lanark & Hamilton East), Liam McArthur (MSP Scottish Lib Dems), Beatrice Mateyo Mkanda (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Kate Osamor (Labour, Edmonton and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development), Oliver Colvile (Conservative, Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport), Jonny Vaughan (Executive Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust), Chiza Manda (Deputy Director, Department of National Parks & Wildlife), Susan Lukhere (Project Manager, Citizens for Justice), Hellen Chabunya (Head of Political and Public Affairs, Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Hon Alex Major (co-chair Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus and MP, Kasungu West)
From left to right: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party, Lanark & Hamilton East), Liam McArthur (MSP Scottish Lib Dems), Beatrice Mateyo Mkanda (Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Kate Osamor (Labour, Edmonton and Shadow Secretary of State for International Development), Oliver Colvile (Conservative, Plymouth, Sutton & Devonport), Jonny Vaughan (Executive Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust), Chiza Manda (Deputy Director, Department of National Parks & Wildlife), Susan Lukhere (Project Manager, Citizens for Justice), Hellen Chabunya (Head of Political and Public Affairs, Foreign & Commonwealth Office), Hon Alex Major (co-chair Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus and MP, Kasungu West)