THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY AND ITS WILDLIFE AREAS
Zimbabwe’s magnificent Zambezi River Valley covers the entire northern part of the country, and as the map above shows, and a significant part of this landscape is set aside for wildlife.
Within the Valley, there are four National Parks (Zambezi, Chizarira, Matusadona and Mana Pools), two Private Reserve Areas (Rifa and Sapi) and ten Safari Areas (orange). Lake Kariba is a Recreational Park. There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - one incorporating the Victoria Falls and one incorporating Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore.
Zimbabwe's wild areas are home to just over 80,000 elephants - the world's second largest population! Nearly 25% of them are found in the Zambezi Valley .
All wild areas in Zimbabwe (including those in the Zambezi Valley) are State Land and fall under the administration and protection of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).
HOW ARE THEY FUNDED?
But no funding is provided by the Zimbabwe government for ZimParks to carry out its operations to protect wildlife resources, Instead, it is tourism (in various forms), that is the main source of revenue for this purpose. Significant material support for ZimParks operations is also provided by a growing number of private Conservation Support Organisations (CSOs).
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
But with the COVID-19 induced closure of tourism in Zimbabwe, ZimParks revenue has been hit extremely hard - there is an estimated budgetary shortfall of US$20 million. This is bad news for wilderness.
With a struggling Zimbabwean economy prior to COVID-19, ZimParks has no safety net or alternative Government funding on which to draw. This raises enormous concerns for its ability to continue operations necessary for the protection of Zimbabwe’s wild areas.
As salaries become non-existant, the morale of ZimParks rangers will be affected and effectiveness will diminish, resulting in wildlife areas becoming unpatrolled. Poverty levels will rise, leading to an increase in the bushmeat trade and it is likely that commercial poaching of iconic wildlife like elephants will re-commence.
THIS IS POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS
So.... in this time of great stress.... please spare a thought (or a gift) for the hard-working rangers of ZimParks and the conservationists who support them to work tirelessly in all conditions to keep wildlife and wild landscapes safe, so that we, as visitors, can come back on safari to enjoy them, along with our children and grandchildren.
PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN
If you would like to make a contribution to assist, or if you have a friend or relative who can help, please all check out the excellent work of the following Conservation Support Organisations (CSOs), who are helping to contribute towards the welfare and efficiency of ZimParks rangers in the Zambezi Valley. (You can contact them via their details which are listed on their individual pages, and make a donation via their websites or directly) :-
Bumi Hills Anti-Poaching Unit (BHAPU)
Flying for Wildlife (FFW)
Kariba Animal Welfare Fund Trust (KAWFT)
Matusadona Anti-Poaching Project (MAPP)
The Tashinga Initiative Trust (TTI)
The Zambezi Society (Zamsoc)
Victoria Falls Anti-Poaching Unit (VFAPU)
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
Zambezi Elephant Fund (ZEF)
Zambezi Horse Safaris Anti-Poaching (IMPI)
PLEASE SPARE A THOUGHT FOR CONSERVATION IN THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY'S WILD AREAS - AND IF YOU CAN, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION IN SUPPORT.