Zimbabwe is committed to conserving its wildlife heritage as it plays a critical role in the development of the nation and alleviation of poverty, The Herald quoted the Minister of Environment and Tourism Francis Nhema as saying on Wednesday.

 

This was shown by the amount of land that has been allocated for wildlife conservation, the minister said, adding that the country's economy depended on wildlife activities through tourism.

 

At least 30 percent of the country's land has been reserved for wildlife conservation with half of that protected by the state and the remainder by private safari operators, newly-resettled farmers and rural communities implementing the Communal Area Management Program for Indigenous Resources.

 

To fully benefit from its wildlife resources, the country was expanding consumptive and non-consumptive tourism such as lucrative safari hunting and use of stocks from protected areas to diversify and enhance rural communities and economy, the minister said.

 

Tourism is one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the country and the world.

 

The country has recorded a 33 percent increase in tourist arrivals and half of them visit wildlife areas such as the Hwange and Gonarezhou national parks.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)