Cepa working on new bill

By LUKE KAMA
MOST provisions under various conservation acts in the country are outdated and obsolete and the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) is working on a new bill, an official says.
Deputy managing director Dilu Muguwa said the authority was looking at strengthening conservation efforts in the country by institutionalising it through a central coordinating agency rather than taking a project-based and fragmented approach.
“Protecting and conserving the environment and the country’s biodiversity is a real challenge, particularly when you have some other investment interests over a particular area by other investors,” Muguwa said.
“The landowners would want to get the best from it,” he said.
“And lose interest in conservation projects and initiatives and that at most times affects our conservation efforts because we are taking a project-based approach without proper regulation.
“The non-governmental organisations, conservation and civil societies are doing their own thing.”
“Donor agencies and development partners are partnering with NGOs they choose and everything is not done in a well-coordinated approach.
“Therefore, Cepa as the lead agency, is now looking at institutionalising conservation efforts so that all conservation efforts will be done through Cepa and will be protected by law.
“Those who offend will also be penalised so the authority is now working on the Protected Area Bill.”
He said most parts and sections of the various conservation acts were outdated and obsolete and Cepa was in the process of working on a new bill and repealing those that are outdated.
“Our objective now is to establish and manage an effective network of protected areas in the country,” Muguwa said.
“This starting from national parks administered by the National Government, regional parks administered by sub-national or the provincial governments and community wildlife management areas to me administered by the local communities, individuals and NGOs.”