Local Community Engagement
"Conservation of land and conservation of people frequently go hand in hand."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
What is Local Community Engagement
Conservation does not occur in isolation from people. Local Community Engagement is key in biodiversity conservation, as it provides a vital connection between communities and their environment. Such engagement promotes sustainable conservation, improves community participation and positively shapes local perception towards the stewardship of natural resources within their surroundings.
​
Local Community Engagement can take many forms but generally include some elements of the following:
​
-
Engagement designed to ensure that basic community needs such as education and medical supplies, food, and alternative livelihood skills are met in times of need.
-
Engagement designed to change the characteristics of communities and the environment in which conservation operates aims to:
-
Create awareness. Improving environmental and ecological awareness and knowledge will result in increased understanding of and therefore support for or tolerance of conservation measures
-
Build capacity. This ensures that communities have the skills and knowledge to function as responsible, independent, and, ultimately, empowered actors in conservation programs during their implementation and to continue to deliver conservation outcomes in the long term​​
-
-
Engagement designed to change how communities perceive conservation aims to:
-
Deliver on promised benefits. These benefits are mainly financial (e.g., livelihoods), but also include social and cultural outcomes.
-
Create legitimacy for conservation interventions. Protected areas often lack historical legitimacy, while conservation programs can look like external impositions.
-
Strengthen support. The universal expectation holds that engagement will achieve positive and active support for conservation measures, or at least increase tolerance for them.
-
People Protect What They Are Invested In.
​
Given that many local communities live in and around protected areas, it’s not surprising that they rely on natural resources for food, shelter, energy and trade. While this use can be sustainable, sometimes even low-level use can add pressure to already strained wildlife populations and ecosystems. It’s also the case that natural resource use can be highly exploitative, especially if it’s a commodity that commands high prices on the black market (e.g. ivory, bush meat, old-growth hardwood species, rare plants and animals with medicinal properties, etc).
​
One of the best ways to halt or reduce practices like poaching, trafficking, unregulated fishing and illegal harvest is two-fold -1) ensure basic needs are being met and 2) provide the education, tools, and skills to generate alternative sources of income through community-based enterprises that are sustainable, inclusive, culturally appropriate, and can deliver financial returns. When communities generate income and other non-cash benefits by protecting, rather than exploiting, conservation values, then pressure on the direct use of natural resources decreases, communities begin protecting their assets from exploitation by outsiders, and they are more likely to engage in restoration activities.
​
In short, effective local community engagement-can provide effective incentives for the protection of biodiversity.
Basic Needs
The goal for ZWCF's local community engagement initiatives is to give individuals the knowledge, tools and resources needed to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities as a whole. By enhancing livelihood security, assisting community members to achieve higher levels of education and new skills, and increasing income generation opportunities - all within the context of promoting the peaceful coexistence of wildlife and humans, we are building a better future for the communities and wildlife we are dedicated to supporting.
​
Basic needs are essential for the well-being and prosperity of a community. These needs include:
-
Water: Access to clean and safe water is crucial for drinking, cooking, sanitation, and hygiene. Unfortunately, many rural communities in Africa lack reliable water sources, leading to health issues and waterborne diseases.
-
Food: Adequate nutrition is essential for physical health and development. However, food insecurity is prevalent in rural areas due to factors like poor agricultural practices, climate change, and limited access to markets.
-
Education: Education is a fundamental right, but rural African communities often face challenges in accessing quality education. Lack of schools, trained teachers, and educational resources hinders children’s learning opportunities.
-
Health Care: Access to healthcare services, including clinics, hospitals, and trained medical professionals, is critical. Rural areas often suffer from inadequate healthcare infrastructure, leading to preventable illnesses and high mortality rates.​
Efforts to address these needs involve local authorities, international donors, and non-governmental organizations working together to improve living standards and promote sustainable development in rural areas. By addressing these basic needs, we can empower rural communities and enhance their overall well-being. And by doing so, these communities will begin to buy into our primary conservation objectives.
Conservation Education and Capacity Building
ZWCF's focus on education extends to the importance of wildlife and habitat conservation and the critical role each individual plays in minimizing their impact on the earth’s limited resources. Our conservation education initiatives expose communities and their leaders to critical environmental issues such as deforestation, soil erosion and water conservation that affects each and every one of them, and the importance of protecting the area's wildlife resources. The aim of our conservation education programs is to build habits that will lead to the coexistence of the communities and wildlife for generations to come.
Capacity-building is defined as the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, abilities, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing world.
​
Capacity building for rural Africans is a multifaceted process aimed at empowering individuals, communities, and organizations in rural areas to enhance their abilities, knowledge, and resources. Here are some key aspects of capacity building specifically tailored for rural Africans:
​
1. Agricultural Skills and Techniques:
-
Training and Skill Development: Capacity building involves providing training and skill development programs for farmers and rural communities.
​​
2. Financial Literacy and Access:
-
Financial Education: Capacity building helps rural Africans understand financial concepts, manage their finances, and access financial services.
​​
3. Community Empowerment:
-
Local Leadership: Building capacity involves nurturing local leaders who can advocate for community needs and drive positive change.
​​
4. Infrastructure and Technology:
-
Access to Information: Capacity building ensures access to information through technology, such as mobile phones and internet connectivity.
​​
5. Environmental Stewardship:
-
Sustainable Practices: Capacity building emphasizes sustainable land use, conservation, and natural resource management.
​​
6. Health and Education:
-
Healthcare Services: Capacity building extends to health education, disease prevention, and improving healthcare access.
​
Alternative Livelihoods
ZWCF's alternative livelihood initiatives are designed to provide sustainable economic opportunities that reduce dependence on natural resources and decrease human-wildlife conflict. These initiatives are crucial for promoting environmental conservation while improving the standard of living for local communities. These initiatives require a deep understanding of local contexts and needs, that is why we work directly with community leaders to implement these practices in the best way that they see fit.
1. Vocational Training and Skills Development: Providing vocational training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, beekeeping, or eco-tourism can offer new income sources. These skills not only diversify household incomes but also create products and services that can be sold locally.
​
2. Women and Youth Empowerment Programs: Empowering women and youth through education, training, and economic opportunities can have a transformative effect on communities. Programs targeting these groups often lead to more sustainable and equitable development outcomes.
​
3. Eco-tourism and Conservation Enterprises: Developing eco-tourism initiatives or conservation enterprises (like wildlife sanctuaries, community-owned lodges, or guided tours) can generate income while promoting environmental stewardship. These initiatives leverage the natural beauty and biodiversity of an area to create jobs and fund conservation efforts.
​
4. Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM): Engaging communities in the management and sustainable use of natural resources ensures that conservation efforts align with local needs and knowledge. CBNRM programs can include managing fisheries, community forests, or wildlife areas in ways that benefit both people and the environment.
What We Support
