MPCC NATIONAL MEETING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS ON WILDLIFE AND FOREST GOVERNANCE

“Combating Forestry and Wildlife Crime through Strengthened Policy and Legal Processes”
September 28, 2015 | Lilongwe, Malawi

The Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (MPCC), in partnership with ICCF Malawi, UNDP, CEPA and Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, held a national stakeholders’ workshop on “Combating Forestry and Wildlife Crime through Strengthened Policy and Legal Processes.” Participants discussed the local, national, and global implications of wildlife and forest crimes in Malawi, and agreed on key priority actions and the need to produce comprehensive legal and policy frameworks to effectively govern wildlife and forest resources. These frameworks will focus on strengthening penalties for wildlife and forest crimes; improving implementation of policies and governance strategies; building capacity of law enforcement, judiciary, and legal institutions; and creating economic benefits to local communities while incentivizing alternatives to charcoal use.

Following the workshop, the MPCC and participating stakeholders pulled together a set of key priorities and recommendations for the Government of Malawi, which will be submitted to the Task Force currently working to update the wildlife policy and legislation.

Read the priorities online here.

Over 50 parties participated in the workshop, including members of the Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus; the Departments of Wildlife, Forestry, Energy, Environmental Affairs and Foreign Affairs; multilateral development partners; local and international NGOs; and private sector representatives.

ICCF Malawi is the secretariat for the MPCC, and works with a Conservation Council of members of the private sector, NGOs, and development institutions to produce programs for the caucus that advance Malawi’s leadership in natural resource management.