Land Conservation
Like many areas on the planet, eastern Zambia wildlife rich heritage is threatened by a multitude of problems arising from improper land use. Rapidly growing human population, lack of adequate information on wildlife species, and a lack of training, education, and employment opportunities in the local communities have led to pressing environmental and social concerns that must be acknowledge. Land conservation is a cornerstone of ensuring the sustainability and health of both natural ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Recognizing the intricate link between biodiversity, human well-being, and environmental conservation, ZWCF is dedicated to preserving Zambia's rich natural heritage through our land conservation efforts. These efforts include, biodiversity monitoring programs that track the health and diversity of wildlife populations and ecosystems, enabling the natural flora and fauna to thrive, while eliminating alien species. Stopping deforestation is crucial to the protection of the regions ecosystem. By promoting sustainable land use practices and reforestation efforts, we look to eliminate the threats that deforestation poses on the wildlife habitat but also the livelihoods of local communities . Our focus on fire management initiatives aim to prevent uncontrolled bushfires that can devastate the natural land, further endangering both biodiversity and human safety. By addressing these critical challenges through integrated conservation efforts with our partners and the communities we work with, we strive to protect and rejuvenate the natural habitat or the wildlife and communities that rely on it.
Biodiversity Monitoring
Our biodiversity monitoring programs are at the heart of our conservation efforts. From community involvement and game cameras to aerial surveys and satellite imagery, we gather data on invasive species, wildlife distribution and population, and ecosystem changes.
To monitor alien plant species, we implement targeted removal strategies to restore natural habitats and support the recovery of native flora and fauna. This monitoring plays a vital role of protecting the biodiversity, as alien plant species can be harmful to the indigenous plants and animals.
Fire Management
The Eastern Province of Zambia is dominated by vast areas of fire-prone vegetation including woodland savannas and grasslands. Fire is a naturally occurring phenomenon within the region. Natural burning can lead to improved nutrient cycling in the soil, leading to nutritious forage for wildlife.
Bush fires are frequently set by communities for a multitude of traditional activities, such as clearing indigenous vegetation for agriculture, improving pastures for grazing, burning crop residues, and stimulating the growth of non timber forest products. These practices can be a threat to the health of the ecosystem if not managed correctly.
Our team focuses on the development of community-based fire management plans, increased establishment of community tree nurseries, and improved outreach to communities in order to lessen social and ecological effects of unnatural bush fire.
Stopping Deforestation
Deforestation is a leading factor to human-wildlife conflict and climate change challenges like frequent and intense droughts. By tackling the underlying socio-economic drivers of deforestation; subsistence farming and charcoal and fuelwood collection we aim to reduce deforestation, as well as provide social and economical benefits to the local communities.
Our teams work directly with smallholder farmers and local communities to help them adopt more efficient and conservative farming techniques.
By implementing community education and training programs, we create greater community awareness of issues that arise from deforestation and offer guidance for better natural resource management.
