The governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, officially establishing the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA).

“This agreement reflects their dedication to enhanced cross-border protection, demonstrating international co-operation in the face of global environmental challenges,” reads a joint statement from the governments.

Spread across 18 515 sqkm in the Zambezi River basin below Lake Kariba, the TFCA encompasses vital conservation territories, including the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia and the Unesco World Heritage Site, Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe.

It also comprises a variety of game and safari management areas, communal land, and conservancies. The Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools Transfrontier Conservation Area serves as a critical pathway for wildlife between the escarpment and the Zambezi River.

Peace Parks Foundation commended both governments for their “visionary commitment and leadership” in conservation and sustainable development.

 
On the 1st of July 2022, the Government of Zambia and conservation non-profit organisation, African Parks, announced the signing of a 20- year-agreement for the Kafue National Park in a landmark commitment to secure the protection and effective management of one of Africa’s ten largest national parks. This significant new partnership will deliver greater investment in all aspects of Kafue’s park management, to realise its exceptional value to biodiversity, socio-economic development and the people of Zambia.

African Parks has laid the foundation for the ongoing development and management of Kafue. During this period US$3.6 million was invested into park infrastructure and operations, including: the construction of a new law enforcement centre; rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at Chunga and Ngoma; grading of 2000 km of roads; aerial support to law enforcement operations with both helicopter and fixed wing; completion of an aerial census for the entire landscape; and the creation of 150 permanent jobs. It also included US$800 000 in law enforcement salaries, which were reimbursed to the Government of Zambia.

Spanning 22,400 km2, Kafue National Park is situated in the world’s largest trans-frontier conservation area, the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA TFCA), which straddles five countries - Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The park is amongst the world’s most important natural heritage sites and an essential water source for the region. One of the last vast expanses of the iconic Zambezian ecoregion, and home to elephant, large predators, 21 species of antelope and 515 bird species, Kafue holds potential to become one of Africa’s most exceptional tourist destinations.

The Government of Zambia first partnered with African Parks in 2003 in Liuwa Plain National Park and subsequently in 2008 in Bangweulu Wetlands. Kafue National Park is the 20th park to join African Parks’ portfolio.

Sadly Zambia is no stranger to wildlife poaching issues. Whether it is for meat for local consumption, or potential trade in wildlife (live and body parts), there is always going to be tension between those who wish to protect wildlife and those who wish to exploit it.

Conservation should be achieved in a sustainable way, one in which people and wildlife both benefit - and this is particularly true in areas where the economy struggles to support communities.

Zambia, along with many African countries, is home to a number of privately run organisations, which work in tandem with National Parks/ Wildlife authorities to protect the wildlife and their environment.

As Tourist visitors to Zambia know, part of the fees that they pay contribute to a number of conservation organisations, 3 of which are highlighted below:

For the popular South Luangwa National Park there is Conservation South Luangwa: https://cslzambia.org

To quote:  "Mission: To work with community and conservation partners in the protection of the wildlife and habitats of the South Luangwa ecosystem.
            Vision: The long term survival of wildlife and habitats in South Luangwa under the custodianship of the Zambian people. "

For the Lower Zambezi National Park (part of the Zambezi Valley) there is Conservation Lower Zambezi:
https://www.conservationlowerzambezi.org

"Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) is a non-profit organisation committed to the protection of wildlife and to the sustainable use of natural resources in the Lower Zambezi in Zambia.

In 1994, concerned local safari operators and other stakeholders recognised the need for organised support to the national wildlife protection authority (now the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, DNPW) to combat the poaching that was decimating the wildlife populations in the Lower Zambezi.

Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), initially deployed teams across the park in an old Landrover from a simple base camp built on the banks of the Zambezi donated by the safari operators."

Perhaps the newest organisation is Musekese Conservation (which works in the biggest National Park - Kafue):
http://musekeseconservation.com

"Musekese Conservation is a newly formed organization making resources available within an efficient field-based conservation programme. These resources are having an immediate impact on building effective capacity of Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to control the illegal and unsustainable exploitation of Zambia’s wildlife heritage in and around the KNP.

To secure core areas of the Kafue National Park through capacity building of local law enforcement teams and conservation organizations."

It is always good to know, and to emphasise, that Tourism can has a hugely positive effect on areas and communities, and that tourists can see where there conservation fees are being used....

Luambe National Park has recently achieved a conservation milestone - it is the most carbon neutral National Park in the WORLD.  The Lower Zambezi National Park became the world’s first to achieve carbon neutrality from operations, some time ago. Luambe National Park worked at taking things further - as it not only offsets the operational emissions, but also all tourism activities associated with the Park, which includes guest’s international airline travel.

Reaching this milestone involved Luambe Camp fully funding the initiative that is managed by the USAID-funded Community Forests Program and Bio Carbon Partner’s committed partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. Through these organisations,  Luambe Conservation Project decided to purchase Verified Carbon Standard audited forest carbon offsets generated within Zambia through BCP’s REDD+ projects which resulted in achieving Luambe’s carbon neutral status.

Some interesting and useful information about how the fees are used for the Lower Zambezi National Park: the fees go directly to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ), a Social Responsibiliy Programme supporting the iSchool Zedupad initiative and in support of the annual charitable Elephant Charge Event.  

 Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) is a non-profit organisation committed to the protection of wildlife and to the sustainable use of natural resources in the Lower Zambezi. In 1994, concerned local safari operators and other stakeholders recognised the need for organised support to the national wildlife protection authority (now DNPW) to combat the poaching that was decimating the wildlife populations in the Lower Zambezi.

Since its humble beginnings with basic support to the wildlife authority, CLZ has grown and increased its activities and efforts in the Lower Zambezi. Not only has CLZ’s support to DNPW increased substantially over the years, the organisation now also runs an Environmental Education Programme (2004), a Village Scout Unit (2013) and a Community Development Programme (2013), as well as this CLZ hosts the annual Safari Guides Training courses and exams for the Lower Zambezi (2001).

To highlight a few in 2016 
- CLZ supported 9,879 patrol man-days 
- The CLZ plane flew 189 hours of aerial patrols 
- 56 Poachers were apprehended, 14 firearms & 23 pieces of ivory recovered 
- CLZ's outreach programme reached 2,697 pupils from 56 schools surrounding the park
- 80 candidates sat Safari Guide Exams 
For more information please visit: http://www.conservationlowerzambezi.org 

The challenge among teachers in local schools (combined with a lack of resources) is having to deal with 60:1 student/teacher ratio at any given time. iSchool seeks to reduce this scale by introducing the Zedupad tablet, which is loaded with the whole Zambian Primary School Curriculum in English and 8 other local languages. This, coupled with voice-overs to help with literacy, has greatly improved student engagement, levels of numeracy, literacy and critical thinking, as well as reduced absenteeism among pupils.
 
Students are split into 3 groups, the creative tasks team works with the teacher, the second group works independently to help reinforce learning while the third team works with the tablet. These tablets can be shared by 6 students at a time to help reduce costs.
 
The Corporate Social Responsibility program has identified Mugurameno Primary School, located on the border of the Lower Zambezi National Park. What has been provided so far: 
•    Teacher training and ongoing mentoring support: 3 teachers from the school underwent training in Lusaka. This was achieved through partnering with ischool Zambia who provide the required and necessary training for the teachers. The training consists of 3 days face to face instruction at the start of the program, which covers an introduction to the technology, and then a comprehensive look at the move from conventional learning to child-centred active learning.
•    Provision of Zedupads for Grades 1 and 2: donation of 19 student tablets, 2 teacher tablets, one projector with a battery pack (to allow use without electricity) and a solar power docking station.
•    Provision of other classroom supplies including desks, chairs and bookshelves.
 
The aim is to now introduce ischool to the remaining grades 3 – 7. 

With over US$63,000.00 raised from all who participated at the weekend long "Charge" in 2016, there is much interest in what can be achieved for the 2017 Elephant Charge which will be held from the 13-15 October. 

The Elephant Charge challenges teams of cars and motorbikes to complete a gruelling course through the Zambian bush all in the name of charity. The winning team is the one that completed a course of ten checkpoints in the shortest distance possible. Each team must find their own route between the checkpoints through valleys, over ridges and up escarpments in a trial of driving, navigating and endurance. 

The elephant Charge raises money for 10 beneficiaries who are all well-reputed conservation projects located all over Zambia. It is up to the teams to donate a pledge minimum of US$800.