REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

STATEMENT BY

HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIKA,

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI

AT THE

2015 CONGRESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION GALA

(ICCF)

ON

WEDNESDAY 22ND APRIL 2015

WASHINGTON D.C

Your Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Madame

Gertrude Mutharika,

Mr. Chairman,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I feel greatly honoured to deliver a keynote address on this auspicious

occasion of the 2015 Congressional International Conservation Gala (ICCG).

First of all, allow me to thank the organizers of this event for identifying as a

theme international conservation. It is a known fact, that some parts of the

world, are on the verge of losing most of the natural resources that sustain us,

and hence the need for all of us, to work together, in ensuring that this state of

affairs is reversed. It is in this context that, I agree with what former US

President Theodore Roosevelt once said, that the conservation of natural

resources is the fundamental problem, unless we solve that problem, it will

avail us little to solve all other.

Secondly, I am grateful that I have been accorded this opportunity, to share

my thoughts on this important topic of conservation. As I do so, I will focus by

way of example, on our experiences in Malawi.

Before I do so, please allow me to make a brief personal statement. This is the

first time I am addressing a predominantly American audience since I assumed

the Malawi Presidency in June 2014. I first arrived in this country some fifty

years ago as an exile fleeing from political oppression in my native country.

This country embraced me. I received my graduate education in this country

and for the next forty years rose to the position of chaired professor of law at

one of your local leading universities. I want to thank this country for

embracing me at a very difficult time in my life. After I retired in 2009, I

returned to Malawi where for the next five years I served in our national

Parliament, held three cabinet portfolios and in 2014 successfully run for the

presidency of Malawi.

Mr. Chairman

Malawi has a population of about 17 million, and our economy is agro-based.

We have a diverse natural resource base, and if properly managed, these

resources will provide a sustainable socio-economic contribution to the

development of the country. However, the competing needs for a growing

population, industrial development, physical infrastructure and wildlife, are

putting extreme pressure on the protection of the environment and the ecology.

There is alarming degradation of the environment, causing significant loss of

soil fertility, soil erosion, serious deforestation, water depletion, pollution and

loss of biodiversity.

This is one of the contributing factors, to the worst flood in history that hit the

country, in January 2015, which led to the death of 200 people, and

displacement of 230,000 people, as well as destruction of infrastructure, such

as bridges. It also affected our crop production. I had to declare 15 of the

countrys 28 districts as disaster areas. Let me take this opportunity, to thank

Governments, and other good Samaritans, both local and foreign, who assisted

us.

This is why, my government, has put the conservation of natural resources, as

one of its priority areas. We are aware that our life and economy, depend on

these resources. And if we do not take good care of these resources,

generations to come, will suffer the consequences such as the flood we

experienced.

Mr. Chairman,

The depletion of natural resources, is a concern for sustainable development,

as it has the ability to degrade current environments, but also the potential to

impact the needs of future generations. As I indicated earlier, Malawis high

population density is a crucial factor in the significant human pressure on

biological resources and protected areas. And as the human population

increases, the pressure to over-harvest forest and biodiversity resources, and to

convert land for cultivation, will increase. This is why addressing conservation

issues, and sustainable use of natural resources, in the face of rapid

population growth, is one of Malawis greatest challenges. This is particularly

relevant to Malawis forest reserves, and the intense pressure for the

production of charcoal from these reserves, to fuel the urban communities.

Fuel efficient measures to address these unsustainable resource uses are

urgently required.

To address this problem, my government, embarked on a community based

conservation drive. We believe that a successful management of natural

resources should engage the people who are affected, and in so doing they can

participate in setting or changing rules, that can protect the environment.

These efforts seek to find ways of strengthening community engagement and

benefit sharing from the management of national parks and forest reserves.

Progress in recent years has been impressive - for example, the Department of

Forestry, is expanding the use of Participatory Forest Management, as an

approach, for engaging local communities in the management of forest

reserves, and importantly, in sharing the benefits from such management. This

approach has been supported by the World Bank in the Shire River Basin

Management Program. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife has

introduced a financial mechanism that enables benefit sharing of revenues,

from the parks (for example from concession and gate fees) with local

communities, and this mechanism is now under operation at some

conservation areas. The Department is also working with communities to

reduce human wildlife conflicts, and support development initiatives, around a

number of protected areas. The development of nature-based tourism which

accounts for a substantial share of Malawis tourism sector, offers real

opportunities of bringing benefits for local communities, living in and around

key biodiversity-rich landscapes.

Mr. Chairman

Another problem which will require concerted effort within our region, and the

world over, is that of endangered species. Malawi has not been spared from

crime against wildlife and we are losing a lot of wildlife due to poaching and

illegal wildlife trade. For instance, Malawis elephant population has declined

from 4,000 to 2,000 in the past fifteen (15) years due to poaching and illegal

ivory trade.

Let me take this opportunity, to applaud the international community, for

intensifying the ban on the ivory trade. As a signatory to the Arusha

Declaration on Wildlife crime, we will continue to work with our neighbors

through the existing mechanisms to ensure that fauna and flora are protected

and conserved for sustainable development.

Mr. Chairman.

I would like to assure this gathering that in Malawi, we will carefully preserve

our natural resources consisting of the land itself, lakes, rivers, forestry,

wildlife, fish and minerals. It is my Governments priority that, the effective

exploitation of these resources should provide a boost to our development

efforts. We look forward to the partnership between ICCF and Malawi

Parliament as it will assist in educating the nation on the value of conservation

and natural resources for achieving our national development goals.

I thank you all for your attention.