Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism, discussed and approved the Tourism Development Protocol to increase the sector's contribution to SADC economies amid COVID-19 and climate change.

Tanzania Deputy-Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mary Masanja, said the move would help the region remain resilient despite the ongoing pandemic.

She explained that the protocol would promote tourism in SADC countries and, among other things, help to strengthen tourism promotion activities.

In addition, she said: “The success of the Joint Poaching Control Strategy is the growing co-operation between member states in controlling poaching and the illegal trade in government trophies, and co-operation in training wildlife officers with the aim of building capacity in addressing the challenges of conserving wildlife resources.”

The conference, held in Tanzania this month, also discussed and approved the SADC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

To facilitate the implementation of environmental protection, ministers approved SADC member states joining The Green Climate Fund. Through this fund, the countries will be able to access funding for environmental protection and conservation.

Ministers also passed the SADC Protocol on Environment for Sustainable Development and the SADC Forest Strategy 2020-2030. Part of this is the Forest Strategy, through which the member states will be helped to increase and control the business of forest products.