Okavango Delta finally listed as a World Heritage Site

The 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which has been meeting in Doha this week, has agreed to the Inscription of the Okavango Delta as a Natural World Heritage Site. Below is the text of the Minister of Environement, Wildlife and Tourism, the Honourable Tshedkedi Khama’s, acceptance speech following the announcement.

"On behalf of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Botswana Lt. Gen. SKI Khama, the government and the people of Botswana, I am happy to accept the status bestowed on our Okavango Delta, Natural World Heritage Site. This is evidence that the international community recognizes and acknowledges the natural outstanding universal values of the Okavango Delta.

"...Let me assure you that the government of Botswana is committed to the protection of all its natural and cultural heritage, regardless of whether it is a World Heritage site or not. We therefore assure the committee that we will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, most importantly the communities living in and around the Okavango Delta, and the riparian States of Angola and Namibia to maintain the integrity of the Okavango Delta.

"We are very honored to have the Okavango Delta as one of the World Heritage sites after Tsodilo Hills which was inscribed in 2001. The success of this nomination is attributed to the support of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), the World Heritage Centre, IUCN, ICOMOS, through the Nomination Training Programme for Africa dedicated to the training of heritage professionals in Africa in the development of nomination dossiers with the aim of increasing the number of World Heritage Sites in Africa in the World Heritage List.

Source: Okavango Delta Listed as a Natural World Heritage Site - Okavango Research Insitute (21 June 2014)
Botswana’s Okavango Delta becomes World Heritage Site - StarAfrica (21 June 2014)

More from the Zambezi Traveller
Okavango

Leonardo DiCaprio gives $1 million to elephant conservation

The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation have a $1 million grant to the Elephant Crisis Fund, a joint initiative created by Wildlife Conservation Network and Save the Elephants. The grant will be used to save elephants from the current ivory poaching crisis by funding on-the-ground projects that stop poaching, trafficking, and demand for ivory.

The grant was announced at a gala in Malibu in support of the Elephant Crisis Fund, which brought the total raised that evening to $2 million, all of which will be sent directly to anti-poaching, anti-trafficking and ivory demand reduction projects on the ground.

“Elephant poaching is a brutal crisis, with more than 30,000 elephants killed last year alone,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “The decimation of these animals is something we have the power to stop, and the Elephant Crisis Fund is a crucial part of the solution. I am honored to support them and recognize Dr. Douglas-Hamilton for his lifelong commitment to protecting this species.”

The Elephant Crisis Fund (ECF) directs 100 per cent of donations to global anti-poaching, anti-trafficking and ivory demand reduction actions on the ground. Projects supported by the Elephant Crisis Fund so far include an airplane that flies over Tsavo National Park in Kenya to detect poachers, and sniffer dogs trained to find ivory at ports.

"The only future for elephants is for governments, organisations, and individuals to join together in their support. What we have seen in Los Angeles has given us greater hope than ever, as a generous donation by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was matched by this astonishing community," said Iain Douglas-Hamilton, founder of Save The Elephants.

Source: Leonardo DiCaprio gives $1 million to elephant conservation

Sinamatella update from the Bhejane Trust (May 2014)

By Stephen Long (from the Bhejane Trust May 2014 Newsletter)

My suggestion, back in March, that the rainy season had come to an early close was (of course) as accurate as most weather forecasts and we had 22mm of rain in April. That gives us a total of 599mm for the season.

In spite of that rainfall, the change of season has been very noticeable. Apart from the obvious drying out of the grass, we have also seen the arrival of part of the buffalo herd that will spend much of the winter along the Sinamatella and Mbala rivers, the Palaearctic migratory birds have departed and Crowned Hornbills, Pied Crows and Golden Orioles, all of which are much more common or perhaps more obvious in the dry season have arrived. The game viewing has improved a little but there is still a great deal of long grass and sights such as this lion that sat nicely out in the open at Mandavu are few and far between.

For the second year running there has been a season-end plague of stink bugs. It hasn’t been quite as bad as last year (yet) but even so there are thousands of them searching for places to hibernate, both in and out of the house and their smell is everywhere.

BIRDING

Back in February last year we started taking part in the Southern Africa Bird Atlas Project and, with the encouragement of the Parks Ecologist at Sinamatella, we involved a number of the rangers as well. In April this year the 100th Atlas card for the Sinamatella area was completed and we now have a reliable team of atlassers amongst the rangers. In fact, data comes in faster than I am able to deal with it and I have a backlog of cards waiting to be submitted to the project – something I would not have imagined when we started.

ROADS

Visitors to Sinamatella often complain about the state of the roads – with some justification as lack of equipment and funding has severely cut road maintenance in recent years. This year the Parks Authority has found the funding needed to get the Sinamatella road grader back in working order and to hire contract workers for a few months to do some road repairs. So far the road from Mbala gate to Sinamatella has been graded and some of the bush has been cut back and a team of rangers has cut back overhanging bush along the Sinamatella River Drive and bypassed the bridge that was recently destroyed by rain. The new river crossing is not for the fainthearted and certainly isn’t good for anything but a 4x4.

There is an obvious need for a great deal more road work around the area and I’m afraid that the days of roads suitable for ordinary road-cars will not be back in a hurry but any improvement is a bonus.

RHINO

With the arrival of our ‘new’ Land Rover in March, we were able to introduce, for a while at least, a mobile monitoring team to search for our elusive rhino. We travelled to quite a number of outlying places during the month but the closest we got to any rhino was finding two or three-day old spoor. There is still far too much grass in most places for spoor to be easily visible and there is so much water around that the animals, of all species, are still able to move more or less anywhere. However, at the start of April there were few reports of rhino movements from rangers on patrol but towards month end many more reports were received so we are confident we can start bumping up the total of ‘visuals’ very soon.

During April there were more poaching scares from the Zambezi and Robins areas and it has become clear that the ‘front line’ in the poaching war has moved away from Sinamatella and is now focussed on the safer (from the poachers’ point of view) places along the Botswana and Zambian borders where elephants are a cost-effective alternative to rhino. At first sight that sounds like fairly good news but in fact it is creating a manpower problem as anti-poaching at Sinamatella can by no means be safely reduced but at the same time more trained manpower is needed elsewhere.

VEHICLES Back to the doom and gloom this month! In the March newsletter I suggested that our “new” Land Rover would inevitably give us troubles and unfortunately that was one prediction that I got absolutely right. Early in April we had problems with wheel bearings – which were easily solved, a shock absorber mounting broke off - also fairly easy to solve but the injector pump went wrong and that wasn’t at all easy to solve. We eventually had to send the vehicle to Victoria Falls for repair and at the end of the month it was still there, waiting for a new pump. At the same time, our Land Cruiser started complaining that it needed some care. I took it to Bulawayo for spares but I was so nervous of one tie-rod end in particular that I took a chance on no-one at any of the many road blocks being alert and tied it with rope as a back-up. Not really necessary as it turned out but it stopped me worrying on the journey to town. The worst problem of all though is tyres. Between the 3rd of February and the 23rd of April we repaired an average of one puncture every two days mainly because of worn tyres and both the Cruiser and the Defender are in desperate need. We can not continue as we are for much longer – these are some of the things we are currently driving on……

That they have lasted so long is a tribute to the manufacturer – but it does make life difficult sometimes!!

Website:
Bhejane Trust

Chamabonda update from Bhejane Trust (May 2014)

By Trevor Lane (from the Bhejane Trust May 2014 Newsletter)

We have been doing ongoing maintenance work in the field – the old firebreaks that cross the park have been opened up – they have not been used for many years. Bush clearing of Terminalia around Thomsons pan was undertaken, plus a general tidying up of growth at the solar unit sites and at No 3 base.

The new solar pump unit for No1 was acquired. A frame was made up and the panels and pump imported. This was all assembled at No 1.

However, we discovered a problem when putting down the pump – when Management Unit from Umtshibi was here for the release of wildebeest, etc, they somehow dropped the pump and rods into the hole and did not bother to fish them out. This means we only have two meters of water – the borehole has gone from 32m to 15m deep!

We are test pumping with the solar pump to see if it will produce enough water, and, if not, will try and make a plan to fish the pipes out, or if it comes to the worst, to drill a new borehole.

One issue we are facing is the sudden increase in elephant population in the Chamabonda – they are sucking the water troughs dry at all three water points every evening and the first couple of hours of daylight pumping are just to replenish the troughs!

Bream back in the Chamabonda! When one reads the old wardens reports on the Chambonda, they talk about fishing for bream in the vlei. This seems hard to imagine today!! However, when you look at the photos of old (following) you can see how this was. The good news is that bream are now back in the Chamabonda! Ian du Preez of Nakavango Estates organized to catch a lot and transported them in drums, and were then all released into No 3. Big thanks to Ian and his crew. I will monitor how they get on. Warning – fishing at the pan strictly verboten!!! It is hoped the fish will clean up the pan, and might attract fish eating water birds.

Vernon Booth, ex Parks Ecologist at Matetsi, has sent some fantastic aerial photos of the Chamabonda Vlei in 1980, when it was a lot wetter!!

Website:
Bhejane Trust

Stanbic Bank supports VFAPU

Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, one of Victoria Falls’ local banks donated uniforms to the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit this year.

Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU) was formed in an effort to fight the alarming levels of destruction that was taking place. The unit needs active support from the community to operate effectively. Stanbic Bank has been donating the unit’s uniforms since 2011.

These state-protected areas are home to numerous species of fauna and flora, which, through recent times have unfortunately been subject to a dramatic increase in various forms of poaching. Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is designated a World Heritage Site, under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The Falls are surrounded by the 2,340 ha Victoria Falls National Park and the 57,000 ha Zambezi National Park.

Stanbic Bank operates a branch in Victoria Falls at Phumula Centre.

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Stanbic Bank
Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit

Conservation fundraiser for Birdlife Zimbabwe

Zambezi Traveller Directory:

Birdlife Zimbabwe

Namibia moves to protect its wetlands

Namibia has designated its fifth Ramsar Site, 'Bwabwata–Okavango' in Bwabwata National Park. The site covers the lower Okavango River, part of the Okavango Delta Panhandle and permanently or temporarily flooded marshes and floodplains bordered by riparian forest and open woodland. It supports IUCN Red-Listed species, including elephant, hippopotamus, lion, slaty egret (all listed as vulnerable) and the endangered grey crowned crane and the critically endangered Eurasian bittern and Pel’s fishing owl. The site supports one of the highest diversities of species in the Zambezian Flooded Savannas ecoregion. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded, the highest number of any site in Namibia.

During the recent official launch of the Bwabwata-Okavango Ramsar Site, the Namibian Minister of Environment and Tourism Uahekua Herunga, announced that plans are underway to establish a draft national policy on wetlands and a National Committee on Wetlands.

Herunga said that the draft policy on wetlands will provide the policy framework and guidance to the management of wetlands. In addition, the Wetlands committee will act under the Ramsar Convention and spearhead the national wetland programme of the government.

The Ramsar Convention is one of the oldest international conventions, signed in 1971 in the City of Ramsar in Iran. The main focus of the convention then was to protect wetlands as habitats for birds. Since then, the scope and focus of the convention has expanded to include all aspects of wetland conservation and sustainable use.

Namibia became party to the convention in 1995 and listed four wetlands as wetlands of international importance. The newly-launched Ramsar is Namibia’s fifth site following other wetlands such the Orange River Mouth, Walvis Bay Lagoon, Sandwich Harbour and the Etosha Pan.

Herunga said other wetlands such as the Nyae-Nyae Pans, Kunene River Mouth, and the Kwando-Linyanti-Chobe-Zambezi systems are also good candidates for Ramsar listing. “In future we will focus our efforts in getting these wetland systems designated. Very soon I will direct my directors to identify other Ramsar sites countrywide,” he said.

He also highlighted the importance of wetlands saying they are valuable for all humanity but it seems as if most people do not recognise their value. “I say this because wetlands are being degraded on a daily basis mainly by human activities. It further seems to me that our communities do not appreciate the services provided by these ecosystems. We need to communicate the value of wetlands and the need for their conservation to the public. That is the responsibility of all of us and not only that of the government,” Herunga explained.

More from the Zambezi Traveller:
Wetlands and RAMSAR

Source:
Namibian wetlands policy gets rolling (Travel News Namibia, 18 Feb 2014)

Latest news from Wilderness Hwange

Here's an appetiser from our forthcoming eNewsletter - are you signed up? Subscribe here.

The Wilderness Safaris concession in the Hwange National Park is one of the prime game viewing areas in the Park. The diversity of landscape from the border at Ngweshla all the way through to Ngoma provide interesting habitat for a large selection of species. Within this area Wilderness Safaris constantly nurtures, protects, monitors and cares for this precious wilderness. Arnold Tshipa is the conservationist whose job it is to keep an eye on conservation matters and this month his report deals with the stresses of a lingering dry season.

In September Arnold reported early rains, which were probably attributable to conventional currents, and yielded a welcome 4mm to Little Makalolo. This was most needed as the gauge had climbed to 39ºC and the heat was becoming unbearable at times. Whilst this early respite was welcome, it was short-lived and the month of October is expected to yield the typical unrelenting heat that precedes the real rain.

(Image credit: Mike Myers)

During the dry months, Wilderness Safaris Zimbabwe looks after the water levels in 14 waterholes. Willem Botha maintains and runs Lister and Kubota diesel engine pumps to ensure an adequate supply of water for game species. As the water levels drop owing to the demand of elephants and buffalo especially, so the level of diesel required increases. This is carefully monitored and reported on, and from the reports, the movement of elephant, particularly, can be seen. At the moment, the pumps are pushing out around 1M litres of water a day. Keeping up with demand is difficult, but is ongoing and as the thud of the engines yield fresh water, we look to the skies for signs of some natural relief.

(Image credit: Mike Myers)

The anti-poaching unit continues its patrols to prevent off-take. Every month large amounts of snares are found and removed, but now with the concentration of game around the few waterholes, the incidents of snared elephant and buffalo is on the rise. This is being closely monitored and de-snaring tactics are being put in place.

We also have a number of camera traps that have been set up and the results from these traps are starting to be very rewarding and interesting. This month the white-tailed mongoose and leopard were the most exciting sightings.

We acknowledge all the hard work done by our conservation team for without their care of the wilderness, there would be no Wilderness.

Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Hwange

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Little Makalolo Camp (Hwange, Zimbabwe)
Davison's Camp (Hwange, Zimbabwe)

All about AWF

Read all about the work of the African Wildlife Foundation on the Zambezi Traveller online Travel Directory.

Friends Of Hwange Trust Appeal for Support

Hwange National Park is again very dry this year and needs support.

The residents of Bulawayo are doing all they can through Wildlife Environment Zimbabwe (WEZ) but they can't do it alone.

At the moment we have a drilling rig in the Park cleaning out a few critical boreholes but we need to do more and whilst the rig is there it would be great if we could find the money to do a few more to make the exercise worthwhile.

Friends of Hwange Trust is doing all it can keeping the pumps going. We held a fundraising dinner in May and although we raised a reasonable sum of money it is not enough to get the Park through the dry season and definitely not enough to spend on major rehabilitation like the work being done at the moment on the boreholes.

If you are in a position to support this great National Park by generously donating please do so as a matter of urgency.

To arrange a donation please e-mail dave@friendsofhwange.org or give Dave a call on (Zim) 0712 630152 so we can take you through the online or cash donation process and thank you. Lets see what we can do!

Friends of Hwange Trust

Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Hwange

AWF Celebrates Opening of Community-Owned Conservation Lodge in Zambia

Machenje Fishing Lodge offers innovative model for communities that may benefit from conservation-driven enterprise.

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Taonga Safaris, and residents of the Sekute Chiefdom today celebrated the opening of Machenje Fishing Lodge, a community-owned conservation enterprise located about 60 km outside of Livingstone, Zambia. Zambia’s Minister of Tourism and Arts, Hon. Sylvia T. Masebo, MP, officially opened the lodge.

With its picturesque location along the Zambezi River, in close proximity to some of Southern Africa’s most famous attractions, including Victoria Falls, the sport-fishing lodge is an ideal tourist destination for those seeking either a tranquil African getaway or an adventure-filled trip. More notably, Machenje is the product of an innovative partnership between a local community and a private sector tourism operator, formed to enhance conservation in a region that boasts some of the largest herds of elephant on the African continent.

“This region is home to a quarter of Africa’s elephants and has one of the most important terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems in Africa. It has also undergone tremendous development in the past several years, intensifying competition for natural resources and conflict between people and wildlife,” said Patrick Bergin, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation. “With Machenje Fishing Lodge, we are demonstrating that it’s possible to manage development in such a way that local communities receive direct economic benefits, lands are secured for wildlife, and natural resources are sustainably managed over the long term.”

The Kazungula District of Zambia, where the Sekute Chiefdom is located, lies close to the borders of Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. Elephants and other wildlife regularly move between these countries to get to various habitats, but over time, unplanned human settlements had disrupted some of the wildlife corridors that connected these disparate protected areas. In exchange for AWF developing Machenje Fishing Lodge and providing other community and economic benefits—including rebuilding a primary school and providing employment opportunities for local residents as wildlife scouts—the Sekute community agreed to set aside more than 20,000 hectares of land strictly for conservation. AWF helped the Chiefdom establish the Sekute Community Development Trust (the Trust) to oversee management of the conservation lands.

AWF and the leadership of the Sekute Chiefdom are looking at Machenje as a long-term strategy to generate revenue for the community—through the Trust—to use toward local development projects. Under an agreement brokered by AWF, the Sekute community owns the land and lodge, while the private sector partner manages the daily operations. A portion of revenues are paid out to the community as part of a benefit-sharing agreement; the operator will also employ local residents for several permanent staff positions, with temporary staff to be engaged on a need basis.

The partnership arrangement has been hailed by the Hon. Ms. Masebo, who previously visited Machenje Fishing Lodge during its final phase of construction, as a model for communities to potentially benefit from conservation-driven enterprises. “We have an example of a viable community-based conservation enterprise model involving communities in partnership with the private sector that contributes to tourism development and wildlife conservation,” the Hon. Ms. Masebo remarked in her speech at the opening ceremony.

Noting that the presence of such a significant elephant population in the region can occasionally result in human–wildlife conflict, the Minister added, “It is through community-based conservation enterprises such as Machenje Fishing Lodge that local communities like Sekute are able to turn that ‘burden’ of living with elephants into an opportunity.”

Read the full article on the Zambezi Traveller webiste here.

Mayu Mishina, African Wildlife Foundation, +1 202 939 3324, mmishina@awf.org
Andrew Simpson, Taonga Safaris, +260 977 333184, info@machenjefishinglodge.com

Read more from the latest issue:
Creating Community Value in Conservation (ZT, Issue 13, June 2013)
Conservation-Driven Enterprise (ZT, Issue 13, June 2013)
Easements for Education (ZT, Issue 13, June 2013)

Annual SLCS Conservation Fun Run and Sports Day a great success

The 2013 annual South Luangwa Conservation Society Fun Run and Sports Day held on 6th July was the best so far!! It continues to grow every year and proof of this is that we ran out of t-shirts for the runners this year. Close to 300 people ran the race and nearly 3000 people attended during the day.

Runners get ready to start the race

The event was spiced up with Zambian footballer, Chintu Kampamba who not only gave a speech and entertained everyone with his presence but he also ran the 10km’s. This year we were also privileged to have the Mambwe District Commissioner, the District Education Board Secretary, Chief Mkhanya’s representatives and many other heads of department attending and taking part in the events.

Mid race refreshments - and T-shirts!

The Fun Run has become a fixed calendar event which people look forward to throughout the year. It is a day of fun, sports and entertainment in a community where there aren’t many opportunities for such activities. The theme was wildlife conservation as usual and specific emphasis was made by the DC and sports celebrities how essential it is for each one of us to take part in caring for our environment.

Given Phiri, from Kakumbi wins the mens in 29 minutes.

The race kicked off at 8am and less than 30 minutes later the men’s winner, Given Phiri was back at the finish line in an unbelievable time of 29 minutes. The men’s runners up followed not too far behind in second and third place.

Margaret Phiri (centre) from Jumbe wins the ladies 10kms.

The rest of the day was taken up with volley ball, football, netball matches, relays and most entertaining of all tug of war.

The SLCS team beat Zambia Air Force in tug of war much to the delight of the crowds.

In a competitive tug between the Zambia Air Force and SLCS supported scouts, SLCS won much to the delight on spectators especially considering our scouts are half the size of ZAF officers!

Visit the SLCS website or follow them on Facebook.

Read more from the Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter:
Zambezi Traveller eNewsletter (No5, Aug 2013)

Zambezi Traveller - your complete guide to the region.

Vulture Restuarant Recognised

Vultures gather at feeding station. (Image credit: Peter Roberts)

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was acknowledged this week for their vulture conservation work. The Lodge has a regular 'vulture restaurant' feeding station where they feed the vultures and where visitors can learn about them from the resident guide. The vultures are fed everyday at 1pm every day in front of the Buffalo Bar to give visitors the best view of these magnificent and often maligned birds.

Stefan Rust, of BirdsConTour, came from Namibia to award Victoria Falls Safari Lodge the award for the their work. BirdsConTour is an organisation that brings together conservation and tourism, with a focus on birds.

Nigel Frost, Financial Director Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Stefan Rust, BirdsConTour and Alec Zulu, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge vulture guide at the vulture restaurant. Well done guys!

Read more from past issues:
Vuture count shows increase (ZT, September 2012)
Counting heads at top eatery (ZT, December 2011)
Vulture Restaurants Attract International Clientele (ZT, June 2011)

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Planting the town green

Over the last two weeks Greenpop have been in Livingstone as part of their Trees for Zambia project, planting trees at schools, community areas and even creating a future 'food forest'. Hundreds of trees have been planted in the month long event which reaches its climax this weekend with the Greenpop Earth Fest - find out more on the Zambezi Traveller website here (and also see Let's get this party started on this blog).

Trees for Zambia 2013 aims to plant 5,000 trees in schools, on subsistence farms and in reforestation sites, as well as hosting educational workshops for school children, subsistence farmers and volunteers. Everything from planting indigenous and fruit trees, working to set up micro-nursery enterprises in surrounding communities, implementing conservation education at local schools, promoting conservation farming techniques and fire prevention among small-scale subsistence farmers to raising awareness about deforestation, climate change, environmental sustainability and promoting alternative energy sources - such as solar cooking in order to reduce the region’s dependence on unsustainable charcoal burning.

Here's some photo highlights from their work over the past two weeks.

Team planting day to start Trees for Zambia - Mwandi Community school in Livingstone. Planted 20 trees.

'Uncle Ben' explaines all about charcoal kilns to the volunteers.

Zambezi Nkuku delivering trees for the project!

Finished planting another 40 trees.

And another great tree planting day at Palmgrove Basic - 30 trees.

Read more about Greenpop and their work in the Zambezi Traveller:
Planning to re-green a country (ZT, Issue 12, March 2013)
Planting for a greener future (ZT, Issue 10, Sept 2012)

Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Livingstone
Victoria Falls

Website:
Greenpop

All Image Credits: Greenpop

A conflict of interests

Full extended version of an article from the latest Zambezi Traveller.

Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Africa’s most valuable and beautiful wildlife areas and a top ranking global tourist destination. This flagship park generates the third highest park revenues in Zambia through the wildlife/tourism industry, one of Zambia’s top three economic sectors. However, the future of the Park and its wildlife is uncertain.

In March 2011 a Large Scale Mining Licence for an area (245 km2 ) within the National Park, known as Kangaluwi. The 25 year licence was issued to Mwembeshi Resources Ltd, a subsidiary of an Australian listed company, Zambezi Resources Ltd. 

Zambian law requires submission and approval of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before a licence is granted, but in this case the licence was granted first, on the condition an EIS was subsequently undertaken, an unusual step for such a contentious development in a nationally protected area.

Mwembeshi Resources subsequently submitted an EIS to the Zambia Environmental Management Agency. This was rejected by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) in August 2012 after a series of public hearings, consultations, opposition and petitions by various stakeholders (Mining in Park thrown out ZT, December 2012).

In November 2012 Mwembeshi Resources made an appeal to the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Hon Wilbur Simussa, MP. To date the Minister has not made an appeal decision.

In May industry media reported that the developer had provided additional information on the EIS to the Minister, which to date has not been made available to the public or stakeholders. Despite the absence of the appeal decision, Zambezi Resources has launched a $15 million recapitalization, apparently confident that the project will be approved.

In response to recent calls online and in national media from conservationists to petition against this development, the Minister has stated that “everyone can rest assured that there will be no shortcuts and no compromise with environmental standards whether the mine goes ahead or not”. He said the government was encouraging debate on how to handle the conflict between conservation and exploitation of natural resources. “Can mining and management of a game reserve be done at the same time in the same place? As pressure increases for the exploitation and extraction of minerals and other resources, we need to settle this question, especially that the conflict exists not only in the Lower Zambezi National Park but in other protected areas of Zambia where there are abundant minerals and other resources”. Simuusa also stated while government admitted that two fundamental requirements were overlooked when the mining licence was originally issued to the developers of the proposed mine, these matters were being addressed.

According to studies conducted by Zambezi Resources, the open-cast mining operation, which will have an operational footprint of 12.5 km2, will produce about 14,000 tonnes of copper concentrate per year over an initial 15 year period, as well as smaller amounts of gold, and the proposal also includes the option of developing local smelting and refining facilities.

Conservationists, NGOs and tour operators argue that allowing mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park will negatively affect the wider Park and set a dangerous precedent. An internationally important protected area intended to preserve critical ecological processes will be irreversibly damaged in return for short-term economic gain, as will the Park’s tourism industry and Zambia’s conservation reputation.

While the role of mining in Zambia’s national and local economic development is understood, concerned conservationists argue that mining should not be allowed in protected and ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi. As a unique and world-renowned ecosystem with immense long-term financial and ecological value to Zambia, the area deserves the highest level of protection for future generations.

Read more about the region in our destination guide:
Kariba & Middle Zambezi

Did you know you can download a pdf version of the current, and past issues, of the Zambezi Traveller online:
Zambezi Traveller Downloads

Poachers, Not Animals, Pose the 'Real Danger' in Victoria Falls National Park

From: DIPNOTE The US Department of State Official Blog
By: Sharon Hudson-Dean
Date: 13 July 2013

Link to source webpage here.

“We’re going to fan out, like a ripple moving through the bush.”

With those instructions, our group of American diplomats made a long line, carefully stepping through the long, yellow grass of the Victoria Falls National Park. We were less than five miles from the spectacular Falls, but in the park it was hot, dusty, and dangerous.

The park is home to elephants, African buffalo, lions, leopards, warthogs, and many other animals. While the animals certainly pose some danger, the real dangers we were looking out for were snares. Using nothing more than copper wire, often stolen from telephone lines, poachers fashion crude but effective nooses looped between scrub trees to catch animals. A snare can bring down a 600 pound Kudu antelope, leaving it disabled and exposed to the elements where it will take three or more days to die of dehydration. Snare poachers are generally local villagers -- an estimated 1.9-3.5 million tons of illegal bush meat come from snares each year in Africa -- but the locals share the bush with well-equipped commercial wildlife traffickers after elephant tusk and rhino horn for the lucrative Asian market. In addition to animals, wood and other natural resources are also illegally taken from the national park, leading to large-scale habitat degradation. One local conservationist estimates that 80 percent of curios bought by tourists are made from wood stolen from national parkland.

The Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU), a partnership between the private sector tourism industry, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, is working hard to rebalance the area in favor of both local people and animals. Since its formation in 1999, VFAPU has removed 22,000 snares and arrested over 600 serious poachers. They have successfully lobbied for more stringent laws against poaching and helped destitute locals who might otherwise have become poachers find other work. VFAPU conducts scout trainings and reaches out to schools and tourists with education programs.

Though these efforts have made a great difference, the long-term answers to this problem are sustainable development, education, and community involvement. U.S. Embassies throughout sub-Saharan Africa are working with African authorities to build effective, integrated approaches to wildlife conservation. Fighting wildlife trafficking, which is directly tied to transnational crime, is a U.S. foreign policy priority.

“The whole thing with poaching,” says Charles Brightman, founder of VFAPU, “is that it is not sustainable - there is no thought for tomorrow. No wildlife means no visitors and no jobs.”

Link to source webpage here.

See also the Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit's website.

World Environment Day 2013 Celebration, Dete

On the 5th of June, the African Bush Camps Foundation commemorated World Environment Day with the five Primary School’s comprising the Dete Cluster, being St Francis Primary, Main Camp Primary, Sir Roy Primary, Mambanje Primary and Chezhou Primary Schools.

The day commenced at St Francis Primary School with a welcome by the Principal, Mr Tembo, performances by the world-renowned Dete group Ingonyama and an inspiring environmental speech by Dominic Nyathi from Painted Dog Conservation. Local stakeholders were greeted and welcomed by the day’s MC Derick Phiri who is also the teacher sponsored by the ABC Foundation at Mambanje Primary School.

After the elaborate and entertaining welcome, the five school’s and community members and stakeholders started on a very thorough clean up campaign, each school covering their delegated area of the community including the clinic, police station, commercial shopping area and National Railways. The clean up campaign ended with all school’s gathering at Sir Roy Primary School, situated on the other side of Dete where we were warmly welcomed by the Headmaster, Mr Ntini and his staff of teachers and SDC committee members.

The highlight of the day was without doubt the presentations given by the schools. Each school entered under the three categories of competition, being Banner, Drama/Song and Poetry competition. The children presented outstanding art work and performances, very entertaining but also meeting the criteria of communicating and addressing the theme of this year’s World Environment Day being Eat, Think, Save.


The competition was adjudicated by three well respected members of the community who had the very challenging job of judging the performances of the day.

First, second and third prizes were handed out for each category of Environmental Science Text books and stationary. Refreshments were also provided for the attending guests and local stakeholders and the children were provided with lunch.

Transport was also provided for the three school’s who are located outside of Dete, being Main Camp Primary, Chezhou Primary and Mambanje Primary School who are all over 10km from Dete, Mambanje being the furthest and most remote being 15km away.

As a part of the celebrations, tree’s were planted at all of the five participating primary school’s as well as the Dete Old Age Home, the Dete Clinic, Dete Business Centre, ZRP, NRZ. The schools were challenged by a competition for the best growing tree’s, which will be judged and awarded at the 2014 World Environment Day Celebration.

The 2013 World Environment Day celebrations was a really wonderful day enjoyed by all who witnessed it, attendance was overwhelming by both the school’s and the community. We especially send out big thank you’s to all those who helped make it such a success including St Francis Primary School and Sir Roy Primary School for hosting the WED’s Celebrations, the wonderful judges panel, all local business people and stakeholders who attended, Dominic Nyathi and Painted Dog Conservation, Ingonyama for their performances and participation in the day and Derick Phiri as MC of the event. Everyone there was left truly inspired and challenged to not only make it a day to commemorate but a lifestyle to adopt and spread through the community.

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
African Bush Camps

Celebrity hippo flies to new home

In the March 2013 edition Zambezi Traveller reported Conservation Lower Zambezi’s orphaned hippo rescue. After three months intensive care by CLZ the calf was successfully relocated by the Zambian Wildlife Authority, with the help of Proflight Zambia, to Chipembele Wildlife Trust in South Luangwa where she starts her journey back to the wild.

'Doug' and carers

Hippos are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red Data List and although Zambia has more hippos than any other country in the world, and they sometimes seem common here, Conservation Lower Zambezi undertook the daunting task of saving one orphaned hippo with the intention of returning it to the wild as soon as possible.

Christened ‘Douglas,’ although hippos are notoriously difficult to sex and it is now thought that Douglas is actually 'Douglina', the calf was cared for by a dedicated team of four carers, 24 hours a day, at the CLZ premises in the valley. Thanks to Ross Breeders she enjoyed two egg yolks with her three hourly bottle of 1.5 litres of milk and supplements. Along with a good diet CLZ also had to ensure that the calf had safe and suitable surroundings, and a second pool was built for her after she outgrew the first within a few weeks.

CLZ and the Zambia Wildlife Authority decided to relocate the hippo to Chipembele Wildlife Trust in South Luangwa, where Anna and Steve Tolan, experienced wildlife rehabilitators, committed to caring for her and to ultimately reintroduce her to the wild hippo population in the nearby Luangwa River.

Doug and Oliver swimming

The question was, how to get her there? A road journey would be stressful for the calf and so a shorter journey by air was advised. Proflight Zambia took on the task and Doug was given a higher chance of survival in a purpose-built crate in the back of their Caravan aircraft. Accompanied by one of her carers from the Lower Zambezi, Oliver Chinuka, and ZAWA vet Dr. David Squarre, Doug arrived at her new home in Mfuwe in good condition.

Ready for boarding

Doug currently requires 12 litres of milk a day as well as supplements, and has three keepers with their daily expenses. Chipembele Wildlife Trust welcomes any assistance with these costs.

Zambezi Traveller March 2013:
Orphan Hippo Rescued

Zambezi Traveller Directory:
Conservation Lower Zambezi

Websites:
Chipembele Appeal
Donate with Justgiving
Chipembele on Facebook

'The Long Shields' - lion guardians of Hwange

The lion is an iconic symbol of Africa, yet co-existing with lions poses hardships for many African communities. Lion depredation on domestic livestock and has negative impacts on the livelihoods of livestock owners. Carnivores are impacted when retaliatory action is taken against them.

Globally, human populations are expanding and this has resulted in increasing human-carnivore conflict and declines in many carnivore populations across the world. In the case of the African lion, populations across Africa are shrinking and lions are now absent from 85% of their historical range.

Great ingenuity, dedication and the will and support of local communities are needed to solve the problem of human wildlife conflict. The ‘Living with Lions’ project in south western Kenya has hit upon a unique solution. Maasai warriors were recruited to work alongside conservationists to protect both their community’s livestock and the predators in their areas.

This ‘Lion Guardian’ programme has enjoyed significant success in reducing human-lion conflicts. Following the notable achievements of the Kenyan programme, a number of similar projects have been initiated in community areas across Africa, including Ruaha and Ngorongoro in Tanzania and around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

The Hwange programme has been named the ‘Long Shields’ and is run by the Hwange Lion Research Project with sponsorship from Panthera, Great Wall Motors and SATIB Trust. The programme name has local resonance; in the late 19th Century the Matabele were known as ‘the people of the long shields,’ so named because the fearsome warriors of the tribe carried tall rawhide shields for protection in battle.

Our modern usage of the name communicates the protective role that the contemporary Long Shield officers play in their communities, protecting both village livestock and their community’s natural resources, including the predators that are so valuable to Zimbabwe’s tourism industry.

In late 2012, after fruitful discussions with the Tsholotsho and Hwange Rural District Councils, CAMPFIRE officers and local traditional leaders, the programme was launched around Hwange National Park. The programme is led by the Hwange Lion Research Project’s Brent Stapelkamp and Lovemore Sibanda and has, over the last few months, recruited seven men and one lady from candidates put forward by the local chiefs.

Each Long Shield is equipped with a rugged mountain bike (donated by Des Stephens of SATIB insurance), a cell phone to communicate with project co-ordinators and GPS to record information about conflict incidents in their area. As fearless as the warriors of old, the Long Shields actively mobilise villagers to deter would-be stock raiding lions with loud noises and bright lights and by lighting watch fires.

They also warn their neighbours to move their cattle away from areas where lions are present. This strategy appears to work well and we have monitored the movements of these lions as they move back into the National Park to avoid this unwelcome disturbance. The Long Shields also monitor local wildlife, assist and advise local people with livestock protection.

The Long Shields lion guardian programme is part of ongoing long term research being undertaken by the Hwange Lion Research Project in close collaborative partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

Since 2007 the project has focused on understanding the causes and extent of human conflict with lions in the Hwange area. This programme has been extended to the Victoria Falls region in partnership with Roger and Jess Parry of Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust.

Links:
WildCRU