Threat posed by poaching to nature worries Foote

United States Ambassador to Zambia, Daniel Foote has expressed concern about the threat posed by poaching to nature conservation especially that Zambia’s tourism is highly reliant on nature.

Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda, Mr Foote has pledged to be Zambia’s greatest Tourism and Conservation salesperson and looks forward to more corporations.

He says Zambia has potential to boost its tourism through Private-Public Partnerships.

Mr Foote says the US government is aware that the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) is under resourced and hence the need for support from other partners.

And Tourism and Arts Minister, Charles Banda says government is aware that nature tourism is all about wildlife conservation of the species, and general ecosystems that wildlife relies upon.

He says the poaching problems have proved that they have greater potential to reduce wildlife stocks and negatively affect tourism.

Mr. Banda says to this effect, government has been encouraging the development of private game ranches especially in chiefdoms.