Re: Conservation

["Tyrone Genade" <Tgenade at sun_ac.za>]

On 16 Aug 2002, at 10:51, Roger Hawthorne wrote:

> When I first started the hobby...

This is an inspired post be it a bit utopian.

When Bitter et al go collecting in Cameroon they will actually pay 
the natives for the fish they remove.

This good in many ways:
1) it remunerates the natives for fish taken by "westerners".
2) it instelled a feeling of worth which will inspire them to look 
after the resource
3) it provides an alternative to slash and burn agriculture or 
stripping of the forrest for other resources.

The idea of setting up killifish farms in central africa and South 
America is a good idea which would supply viable alternatives to more 
destructive mechanisms of survival. Ideas like this should be 
encouraged as much as possible.

This cannot only benefit killies but also various cichlids, barbs and 
tetras never mind the impoverished people.

For a long time the "West" has lived off the fat of Africa etc 
without investing much more into it than guns and the technology to 
get more out of Africa (not' preach about western medicine, it has 
only allowed the population to grow beyonds the means for the land to 
sustain it). While one can argue that such a project will only 
further exploit Africa's natural treasures the truth is that such 
sustainable agricultural exploits only enrich Africa. They are low-
impact and high profit yielding.

This ideas needs to be encouraged by what ever means possible. The 
odd of this ever getting government or NGO funding is remote. so the 
next time you go to Africa etc... collecting why no pitch the idea to 
the locals and give them some pointers on how to get started.

Just another kind donation of 21c.
Tyrone Genade
tgenade at sun_ac.za
http://www.tyronegenade.0catch.com
cell#: 084-3354-977

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