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Perhaps most note-worthy is, that since the 2001 inception of the Lower Zambezi Operator's Committee, CLZ has been able to separate itself as much as possible from safari operator issues and rather focus on our main purpose - to safeguard the wildlife and habitat of the Lower Zambezi. By concentrating on conserving the wildlife and habitat of the Lower Zambezi, all stakeholders benefit. The pressures on the Lower Zambezi's natural resources are at an all-time high. Poachers across the country have taken advantage of ZAWA's inadequate resources, which in turn has led to an unprecedented high level of demand on CLZ's limited resources. Further, there is an ever-increasing amount of land being converted from natural habitat into safari operations or other enterprises, both in the surrounding GMA's and the National Park. We have had to deal with other unique challenges too. The mid-term resignation of our Chairman; supporting ZAWA's entire Lower Zambezi anti poaching operations despite the expiry of our funding by the Royal Danish Embassy; and liasing between ZAWA, the Community and LZOC on the controversial issues of Land Use Fees, and the proposed Safari Hunting in Chiawa GMA. Despite these challenges, CLZ has been instrumental in preventing a significant amount of poaching and has helped achieve a workable compromise over the Land Use fees. We are currently developing a Community Conservation Education program, and are investigating future fundraising prospects. The Committee has also met more frequently to ensure more transparent and more efficient operations. And perhaps more importantly, the organization has been keeping its members better informed, by regular newsletters and by the "Valley Net" - a weekly radio broadcast and discussion made possible by the repeater we installed in 1999. |
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© Afrikeye 1999 - 2007 (certain items under permission of original copyright owner) |
The
year 2001-2002 has been a remarkable period for Conservation Lower Zambezi.