The SWM Project in KaZa
ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE (KAZA)
© Dan Hargrove SWM PROJECT
The Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation area is home to a great diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Each year, the area experiences large-scale migrations of megafauna. Whilst rural communities in the Mucheni (Zimbabwe) and Simalaha (Zambia) Community Conservancies have distinct cultures and local governments, they depend on hunting and fishing for both food and income. However, communities’ livelihoods are threatened by erratic rainfall, poor soils, and human–wildlife conflicts.
The SWM Project in KaZa is promoting a sustainable use of natural resources, including wildlife and fisheries, by the Community Conservancies. It is also developing alternative sources of proteins, such as livestock husbandry and aquaculture. The project is being implemented by CIRAD in coordination with the governments of both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
RECENT ACTIVITIES
- Continued implementing field activities while observing guidelines issued by the health authorities during COVID-19;
- Drilled and/or rehabilitated three boreholes to improve community access to clean water and reduce human-wildlife conflict by shortening the distances required to walk to collect water;
- Rehabilitated community social centres;
- Completed community Land Use Planning workshops in Mucheni Conservancy (Zimbabwe);
- Finalised baseline studies (hydrology, ornithology, non-timber forest products, livestock development) and data collection (food and wild meat consumption);
- Finalised the Human–Wildlife Conflict strategy.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
