ZAMBEZI VALLEY CONSERVATION PLANNING - INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE MEETING - OCT 2024
Oct 2024: The formation of trusts and agreements with ZimParks for the co-management of the Matusadona National Park (with African Parks) and, more recently, the Greater Mana Pools Ecosystem (with the Peace Parks Foundation) represent major positive steps for the future conservation of the Zambezi Valley landscape.
In October 2024, The Zambezi Society convened an interactive dialogue session in Harare to focus on the trends and changes taking place within the Zambezi Valley, and to explore interactively what is needed to effectively sustain conservation support for the area into the future. We provide a summary of what took place at this meeting and list the priorities for action decided upon by those who attended.
THE BULLETIN - JAN-APRIL 2024
Jan - April 2024: The Zambezi Society is focusing and strengthening our efforts to help communities with practical solutions and awareness about Human-Wildlife Co-Existence, along the southern boundary of the Charara Safari Area and within Kariba Town itself. We're printing new awareness materials and plan to extend our Virtual Reality programme in schools to other parts of the Zambezi Valley. We continue to assist ZimParks with anti-poaching around Kariba and in Mana Pools, where the new trans-boundary co-management agreement with the Peace Parks Foundation brings hope for new partnership opportunities. We've also got some more carnivore survey research work lined up with WildCru this year, and we welcome Zambia's decision to withdraw the licence for the controversial Kangaluwi Copper Mine in the Zambezi Valley opposite Mana Pools and Sapi. This is a great win for conservation!
THE BULLETIN - NOV-DEC 2023
Nov-Dec 2023: This year, Zamsoc has continued to provide material and operational assistance to ZimParks in the Charara Safari Area and in Mana Pools. We await more details of the newly-signed Peace Parks/ZimParks co-management agreement for the Greater Mana Ecosystem, and are standing by to collaborate. Thanks to donor support, we helped to complete carnivore surveys in the Zambezi Valley, strengthened our Human-Wildlife Co-existence projects with communities in the Charara-Kariba area, and provided ongoing support for rangers and their families.
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).
AN UPDATE ON OUR HUMAN-WILDLIFE CO-EXISTENCE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES IN CHARARA & KARIBA
July 2023: We report on the progress that The Zambezi Society’s Human Wildlife Co-Existence Officers are making in the settled areas surrounding the Charara Safari Area and lately Kariba Town, where people and wildlife live in close proximity. We are focusing on reducing human-wildlife conflict by holding awareness workshops and providing Virtual Reality experiences for school-age children.
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.
THE BULLETIN - OCTOBER 2022
Oct 2022: Our quarterly news Bulletin provides a round-up of our current field operations and projects, and issues of concern, higihlighting reports of insensitive tourism behaviour in Mana Pools. We call for dialogue on wildlife translocations into the Zamebzi Valley, pay tribute to a lost colleague, and celebrate the re-opening of our office at the Mukuvisi Woodlands in Harare.
ZAMSOC INTRODUCES VIRTUAL REALITY TO HELP TEACH CHILDREN
The Zambezi Society has embarked on a very exciting new programme to introduce interesting, emotive, wildlife-positive Virtual Reality (VR) videos to school children who are currently only experiencing negative wildlife interactions.
THE BULLETIN - AUGUST 2022
Aug 2022: In our quarterly news, we feature the progress being made with our new community Human Wildlife Co-Existence Project, introduce an exciting new nature-based education programme for rural children, summarise our field operations with ZimParks in Charara Safari Area, and feature some tourism controversies and fund-raising opportunities.
COMMUNITY WORK TO ASSIST WITH HUMAN-WILDLIFE COEXISTENCE
July 2022: We outline progress by our team of Community Human-Wildlife Co-existence Officers and their new Project Supervisor in mitigating conflict between rural communities near Charara Safari Area and the wild animals that live next door to them. They are collecting data, and teaching people new skills to keep wildlife away from livestock and farmlands, while avoiding conflict situations.
DEVELOPMENTS IN VICTORIA FALLS RAISE MAJOR CONCERNS
May 2022: Community stakeholders in Victoria Falls are deeply concerned that the essential natural elements that make this one of the 7 Wonders of the World could be lost if a recent rush of tourism developments proposed within the protected areas of the Falls and its surrounds are allowed to go ahead.
THE BULLETIN - APRIL-MAY 2022
May 2022: Our quarterly news Bulletin features the start of fieldwork and road clearance after the rainy season; a visit by an important donor, an introduction to our Human-WIldlife Co-existence Officers and a controversy over new tourism developments and activities in Victoria Falls
MEET OUR HUMAN-WILDLIFE CO-EXISTENCE OFFICERS
April 2022: We introduce the Zambezi Society’s team of Human Wildlife Co-Existence (HWC) Officers who are working among rural communities on the southern boundary of the Charara Safari Area to help reduce loss of livelihoods caused by conflicts between people and wild animals.
THE BULLETIN - JANUARY 2022
Oct 2021: A summary of Zamsoc’s busy fieldwork season, our upcoming focus on Human Wildlife Co-existence, the launch of a Zamsoc gift page on Amazon.com for gifting items to assist anti-poaching rangers - and lots more.
TUSKLESS ELEPHANTS - NEW RESEARCH ON AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON
Oct 2021: New research into tusklessness in elephant populations in Mozambique has shown that this phenomenon (which is common among Zambezi Valley elephants) has a genetic cause and is linked to sex.
THE BULLETIN - OCTOBER 2021
Oct 2021: A summary of Zamsoc’s busy fieldwork season, our upcoming focus on Human Wildlife Co-existence, the launch of a Zamsoc gift page on Amazon.com for gifting items to assist anti-poaching rangers - and lots more.
THE BULLETIN - JULY 2021
July 2021: Mid-year news and updates from the Zambezi Society as we continue field operations in Mana Pools and the Charara Safari Area, support Zambia in a fight against mining, and gear up to celebrate our 40th anniversary in 2022.
ZAMBIAN MINE THREATENS LOWER ZAMBEZI - PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION AGAINST IT
July 2021: Join the fight to stop the Kangaluwi open pit copper mining project in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park opposite Mana Pools. Read the details and concerns and sign a petition against it.
THE BULLETIN - APRIL 2021
April 2021: A summary of Zambezi Society activities and operations in the first quarter of 2021; issues of conservation concern, stories of support from the international community and a big shout out to our Operations Team.