Kafue National Park
The World Wildlife Fund and Wildlife Management
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Despite the growing threat to its ecology from poaching, and deforestation, only 30.6 per cent of Zambia's land area has been declared a protected region, and there are 52 protected area sites in all. Lack of resources and other priorities have meant that governments have been unable to fund the measures needed to protect the environment in a sustainable way.
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In the 1980s and 1990s the burden of debt and the measures introduced to achieve macroeconomic stabilisation and structural adjustment aimed at reducing inflation, budget deficits and balance of payments deficits restricted the amount of resources available to government for wildlife conservation. Policies aimed at reforming land tenure that extend private ownership of land should in theory contribute to a reduction in indiscriminate hunting however agriculture is seen as being more important than conservation of animal species. Farmers will kill elephants in order to protect their land. The economic potential of its wildlife is not fully realised.
The lack of government activity aimed at conservation and the increasing global awareness of environmental destruction has lead to the growth of a number of Non Governmental Organisations or NGOs. One that has had a major impact is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This NGO began its conservation efforts in Zambia in 1962. The WWF works in partnership with other donor agencies such as USAID, ODA, DANIDA, and the European Union. In addition to the 18 projects that it has completed, such as a nationwide elephant surveys, investigation into illegal trafficking and trade in animals, and assisting in the setting up of Lochinvar National Park, home of the Kafue lechwe a type of rare antelope. It is currently working on a number of projects and many targeted at education.
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The WWF realises that to have any long term impact on conservation and environmental sustainability considerable effort and funding has to be given to environmental education. Communities must recognise the social cost of illegal hunting or deforestation. They must also see the economic opportunities that arise from managing the flora and fauna.
Since the mid-'70s, the WWF has been funding the Wildlife Conservation Society of Zambia's environmental education programmes. This includes a network of primary and secondary school conservation clubs and a popular children's' weekly environment television programme.
The WWF were also instrumental in the development and implementation of the Administrative Management Design for Game Management Areas (ADMADE). This programme involves local communities in conservation and helps them financially by reinvesting money raised from park entry and safari fees in community development and local wildlife management. ADMADE has helped reduce poaching ten-fold in areas where projects are well-established.
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Related Glossary Items:
Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Deforestation
Related Issues:
The Impact of Structural Adjustment Programmes on Conservation
Non Governmental Organisations
Related Theories:
Establishing Property Rights
Sustainability
