19. The Secretary of the Working Party presented the results of the Fifteenth session of the AFWC Working Party on the Management of Wildlife and Protected Areas (document FO:AFWC/WL/2004/REP). Twenty-eight delegates from 16 countries and four NGOs participated in the session. Fourteen countries presented oral and/or written reports. Common issues arising from the reports included i. a. the weakness in law enforcement; the need for policy, legal and institutional reforms; inadequacy of financial resources to support the management of wildlife and protected areas; potential and opportunities to involve the private sector in the management of wildlife resources and protected areas, thus sharing the burden with the States; cross-boundary wildlife movements and the need to address related problems.
20. The Commission held an in-session seminar relating to systematic decision analysis applied to bushmeat problems. The exercise improved understanding of the issue and generated structured observations and recommendations by the Working Party.
21. The Commission endorsed the report of the Working Party and in particular the recommendations requesting:
i. FAO to assist affected countries to develop common strategies and approaches to deal more efficiently with transboundary movements of wildlife;
ii. FAO and other relevant institutions to continue supporting efforts on breeding wild species for food;
iii. TCDC on the management of wildlife and protected areas to be encouraged and supported by FAO and other relevant international and bilateral organizations;
iv. That conflicts between human populations and wild animals be further addressed with assistance by FAO and other partners and that the issue be the subject of the next in-session seminar;
v. FAO to take appropriate measures for effectively implementing the Commission’s long-standing request to establish a Wildlife Officer’s post at the Regional Office for Africa.