Southern Africa faces conservation crisis as habitats shrink

Leonard Ncube in Livingstone, Zambia

WILDLIFE conservation in Southern African countries is at a critical crossroads due to the impact of climate change on their habitats.

The growing elephant population in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza TFCA) is under pressure from adverse weather patterns, resulting in mass migrations, increased animal mortality and human-wildlife conflicts.

While commendable efforts are being made to address the issue, concerns persist about depleting water tables.

The Kaza TFCA spans Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Angola, and is home to about 227 900 elephants and three million people.

The vast conservation area covers 520 000 square kilometres all centred on the Caprivi-Chobe-Victoria Falls corridor.

With 70 percent of the area devoted to conservation efforts, there are 103 wildlife management areas, 85 forest reserves and three world heritage sites.

At the recent Kaza Heads of State Summit in Livingstone, Zambia, wildlife experts identified climate change as the biggest threat to wildlife conservation in the region.

They called for continuous research to develop sustainable solutions for providing water for both wildlife and human communities.

This is a long-term strategy that will require significant investment in research to accurately understand the impacts of climate change and human activity on the region’s wildlife.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is currently using 150 boreholes to supply water to animals in Hwange National Park.

However, this is just a temporary solution, and comprehensive research is needed to ensure the long-term survival of the ecosystem.

To this end, ZimParks senior regional manager, Mr Samson Chibaya, indicated the importance of educating local communities about conservation efforts and the challenges posed by climate change.

“The biggest challenge is climate change. 150 boreholes are used to supply water to animals in Hwange National Park and there is a need for research to understand the abstraction of water from underground sources. The human population is growing and we need to look at how best to promote safe passage for animals,” said Mr Chibaya.

Only then can they design and implement effective interventions based on research data that addresses the real issues on the ground.

He stressed the importance of education, saying local communities needed a deeper understanding of conservation efforts and the challenges posed by climate change.

Only then can interventions be truly informed by research and address the real issues on the ground.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is collaborating with ZimParks on a research initiative that involves tracking elephant movements and strategically placing artificial water sources during droughts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and ensure the well-being of both wildlife and communities.

IFAW Landscape Conservation Director, Mr Phillip Kuvawoga, also highlighted the critical role of research, saying that as climate change continues to reshape the environment, it will significantly impact wildlife.

“What we advocate for is continuous research to understand climate change models, especially on expected rains, the status of groundwater and then design climate corridors which are the most suitable habitats for elephants now and into the future and then plan accordingly so that we allow the elephants to move to more preferable areas,” said Mr Kuvawoga.

Mr Kuvawoga stressed the need to identify climate corridors — crucial pathways for wildlife movement — and urged member states to factor climate change into future planning.

The summit concluded that research is the cornerstone of science-based programming and a vital tool for safeguarding the Kaza TFCA’s future.