PROJECTS

Advocacy and Planning

ZAMBEZI VALLEY HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT PLANNING

A 10-year Management Planning process (2023 - 2033) is currently underway for the mid-Zambezi Valley complex (see map above) which includes the Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore and the wider Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve. This is being undertaken by the Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project, funded by UNDF and GEF. The Zambezi Society is an active stakeholder in this process, having previously (in 2020) assisted Zimbabwe’s Man and Biosphere committee with reporting to UNESCO on first ten years of the Middle Zambezi Biosphere Reserve.

We advocate for holistic, long-term, management planning for the whole Zambezi Valley in order to retain its unique wilderness values.

CONSERVING & PROMOTING WILDERNESS VALUES AND INFLUENCING BEHAVIOUR IN WILD AREAS

The Zambezi Society’s mission to Conserve the Zambezi’s wildernesses and promote the recognition of their values lies at the forefront of our participation in any stakeholder engagement process. Through Public Awareness Campaigns, we encourage responsible and sensitive behaviour and practices by all visitors and operators in the Zambezi Valley’s National Parks and wild areas. Our RESPECT THE WILD series of informative posters and leaflets and CODES OF CONDUCT for visitor behaviour in sensitive wildlife environments like Mana Pools and Chitake Spring are available for download as Educational Materials on this website.

MONITORING TOURISM & DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACTS

The Zambezi Society acts as an independent watchdog , monitoring any developments (e.g. mining proposals, tourism projects which could have a detrimental impact on the biodiversity or wilderness values of the Zambezi Valley. We actively take part in any Environmental Impact Assessment processes, mobilising support by reaching out to our local, regional and international support base through Social Media and other outlets. We make constructive suggestions to mitigate damaging impacts, and, if necessary, will strongly oppose developments that we consider unsuitable.

Educational Materials

Featured

THE BULLETIN - JULY 2023

July 2023: We welcome the halt of mining activities at the Zambian Kangaluwi copper mining project opposite the Mana-Sapi-Chewore World Heritage Site and hope that the new Lower Zambezi/Mana Pools Trans-Frontier Conservation agreement will strengthen efforts to combat such threats. We report on our community work, carnivore research, and ongoing support for Zimparks (ranger deployments, food supplies and refurbishments at Marongora School).

THE ZAMBEZI SOCIETY OBJECTS - APPLICATION TO PROSPECT FOR OIL & NATURAL GAS IN THE HURUNGWE SAFARI AREA, ZAMBEZI VALLEY

On 19 May 2023, The Zambezi Society filed a formal objection to an application by Shalom Mining Corporation (Pvt Ltd) to prospect for petrolium oil and gas within a large area of the Hurungwe Safari Area in the Zambezi Valley adjacent to the Mana Pools National Park.

THE BULLETIN - FEBRUARY 2023

Jan-Feb 2023: Our first quarterly news for the start of 2023 reports on our strengthened Codes of Conduct for Mana Pools, our anti-poaching assistance to ZimParks, and our help for communities adjacent to Charara to safeguarding livestock against predator attacks. But we are sad to report the loss of two more highly respected conservation colleagues.

ZAMBIA’S KANGALUWI MINE GOES AHEAD IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION

January 2023: Recent reports and images indicate that the controversial Kangaluwi open-cast copper mine in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools/Sapi/Chewore World Heritage Site, has begun development, with potentially damaging downstream impacts on biodiversity, conservation and the fishing and tourism industries of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.