PROJECTS

Research

CURRENT RESEARCH

ZAMBEZI VALLEY LARGE CARNIVORE SURVEY (2022-2023)

In 2022, The Zambezi Society collaborated with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCru) and Zimbabwe’s Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) to help carry out a large carnivore survey across the mid Zambezi Valley through Charara, Hurungwe Mana Pools and Sapi. In 2023, the survey extended its coverage to include Chewore and Dande areas. Our work has involved helping to set up a series of camera trap sites across the survey area. This is then followed by predator ‘call up’ surveys and checks to ensure that the cameras are still in position and in good working order. These surveys are essential to understanding the demographics, and distribution of large carnivore species and to informing conservation management decisions across the Zimparks estate.

PAST RESEARCH

The Zambezi Society has a long history of supporting research projects throughout the Zambezi Valley that are aimed at providing valuable data which informs management decisions and planning for the future of the area.

Read about the research that we have supported (and reported on), by downloading the PDFs in our Zambezi Society historic series at the following links:-

EPISODE 6: Interpreting Zambezi Basin science & research

EPISODE 7: Conserving the Zambezi's wilderness values

EPISODE 9: Elephants, Land & people

EPISODE 10: The Zambezi River Basin – our wider focus

You can also read individual research documents and reports in our RESOURCES section under RESEARCH DOCUMENTS

Featured

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.

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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).

February 2023: We take a look at current and historical Zambezi River rainfall trends in the vicinity of Mana Pools, speculating about rain-shadow effects, extended drought periods, potential impacts on the Park, and whether the climate is changing in this area. We’d like to hear your views.

Oct 2022: As part of The Zambezi Society’s ongoing Historical Series, celebrating 40 years of Zambezi conservation, we describe how our wider vision of the Zambezi as an entire river basin landscape underpins all our activities and operations.

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