Online Reporter
Point blank
PROFESSOR EDSON GANDIWA was appointed director-general of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) at the beginning of the year.
He replaced Dr Fulton Mangwanya, who was moved to head the Central Intelligence Organisation. Prof Gandiwa spoke with The Sunday Mail’s THESEUS SHAMBARE on his priorities. Below are excerpts from the interview.
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Q: What are your vision and targets for ZimParks and how do they align with Vision 2030?
A: ZimParks’ mandate is to conserve the country’s wildlife heritage as provided for in the Constitution.
We will endeavour to consolidate the gains achieved in Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage conservation during the tenure of Dr Mangwanya through strengthening the authority’s operational efficiency, technology deployment, enhanced resource mobilisation, partnerships and collaboration at all levels and scales, growing the wildlife economy (including fisheries and aquaculture) and contributing to sustainable tourism and socio-economic development.
All efforts will be aligned to ensure we contribute towards ZimParks’ vision of being a world leader in sustainable conservation.
Given that about 28 percent of Zimbabwe is under wildlife conservation, we will strive to enhance the quality of wildlife conservation and management to allow for improved species and habitat conservation in the parks and wildlife estate, gazetted forests, communal lands (mostly in the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources, CAMPFIRE) and private or commercial wildlife areas through facilitating the existence of the desirable enabling environment.
We will also champion the implementation of innovative projects in the six trans-frontier areas in Zimbabwe, namely the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA); Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Conservation Area; Greater Mapungubwe Trans-Frontier Conservation Area; Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools TFCA; Chimanimani TFCA; and Zimbabwe-Zambia-Mozambique TFCA, which will contribute towards sustainable conservation and rural development.
At the international level, we will contribute to engaging and contributing towards sustainable conservation principles, in line with Zimbabwe’s values and conservation ethos.
Further, we will ensure full implementation of the authority’s strategic plan and ensure its timeous review to ensure all our programmes and activities are well aligned to the national development policy, which is the National Development Strategy, and thus contribute towards Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
With the finalisation of the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill, we anticipate strengthening of various areas, including human-wildlife conflict management, community and private wildlife conservation and trans-boundary conservation.
Overall, our contributions will cover various key areas, inclusive of sustainable natural resource management conservation, poverty reduction and socio-economic development.
Q: Zimbabwe recently experienced significant wildlife deaths. What measures are being taken to address this issue?
A: The north-west Matabeleland region has the highest elephant population in the country, and this is where we have experienced some wildlife mortalities. Major causes are droughts related to climate change, local over-abundance of elephants, pests and diseases, illegal hunting and retaliatory killings. Variability in climate has seen an increase in disease outbreaks affecting wildlife, which ZimParks’ aquatic, terrestrial and wildlife veterinary services units are investigating.
Whilst research is critical in informing management actions, as part of our adaptive management approach, collaboration and collective efforts are also important.
An example of recent mortalities that we experienced requiring collective action is that of rhinos and fish at Lake Chivero.
Partnerships and collaboration have been initiated and we will ensure that corrective measures are put in place in due course.
It is important to note that the authority has put in place monitoring mechanisms and effective means to ensure both natural and human-induced killings are managed.
Q: What are some of the strategies being implemented to address the escalating human-wildlife conflict?
A: ZimParks has a dedicated community liaison, extension and outreach unit in all the eight regions that engage with local communities to raise awareness on wildlife conservation and the importance of coexistence with wildlife.
The engagement programmes include capacity building on human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures; for example, beehive fences, use of bomas and virtual boundaries (repellents — chili strings and chili bombs), among others, to reduce crop damage and livestock losses.
ZimParks has over the years developed several species-specific plans, such as the Zimbabwe National Elephant Management Plan and the Zimbabwe National Lion Conservation Strategy and Action Plan, to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts through sustainable wildlife management practices. ZimParks also collaborates with local communities, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to develop and implement various effective human-wildlife conflict-mitigation strategies.
We also ensure that as an organisation, we coordinate programmes so that there is no duplication of effort. We also work closely with rural district councils across the country.
We are collaborating with universities and research institutions on innovative solutions to human-wildlife conflicts under heritage-based education 5.0.
Q: Zimbabwe is facing a significant challenge with illegal wildlife trade, particularly in ivory and rhino horn. What measures will you implement to combat this?
A: Zimbabwe has a robust legal framework, highly responsive to wildlife crime.
I think the nine-year mandatory sentence for specially protected species, such as rhinos and elephants, is deterrent enough.
We have been working closely with the police through their operation Nhaka Yedu, the Judicial Service Commission and the National Prosecuting Authority (of Zimbabwe) to ensure that the cases are expeditiously dealt with.
However, we will continue to engage and collaborate with all public and private institutions along the entire law-enforcement and judicial chain process, such as the National Prosecuting Authority, the immigration department, local authorities and security agencies.
We will continue to be compliant with all international legal instruments that control wildlife trade, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Q: Climate change is impacting wildlife habitats and species. How will ZimParks adopt strategies to address this challenge?
A: Zimbabwe is a signatory to various international conventions, which also are aimed at addressing these challenges.
ZimParks will ensure that it plays its part in implementing climate and biodiversity strategies for the betterment of conservation efforts in the country.
Most of the protected areas in Zimbabwe lie in arid and semi-arid areas. These areas generally receive low rainfall and are characterised by high temperatures.
In this regard, ZimParks has adopted several management strategies that are aligned to Zimbabwe’s climate policy.
The strategies include habitat restoration and protection, game water supply, reduction of anthropogenic pressures, disaster management plans and compliance with international standards.
Research and monitoring will continue to play a central part in informing adaptive management actions in response to climate change impacts on wildlife conservation.
Q: How will ZimParks promote sustainable tourism within its parks while ensuring the protection of wildlife and minimising environmental impacts?
A: Zimbabwe has adopted and implemented sustainable conservation practices or models.
These have allowed consumptive and non-consumptive tourism to be operational at the same time without any detrimental effect on natural resource conservation.
Currently, ZimParks has protected area management plans that guide tourism activities and developments, as well as ensuring sustainability.
We will continue to ensure effective implementation of protected area management plans.
ZimParks aims to promote ecologically responsible tourism that supports both ecosystem health and local economies. Strategies that will be implemented will focus on minimising environmental impact, conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of resources to protect Zimbabwe’s wildlife and habitats.
These will include the use of environmentally friendly infrastructure, community engagement, wildlife conservation programmes, sustainable visitor management and partnerships and certifications.
Q: What strategies will be employed to diversify tourism offerings and attract more visitors?
A: ZimParks will implement a series of strategic initiatives grounded in ecological sustainability and community empowerment.
These strategies will focus on conserving biodiversity, fostering responsible tourism practices and creating opportunities for local stakeholders to engage in and profit from eco-tourism activities through expansion of eco-tourism products, product diversification, community-based tourism initiatives, adventure and niche tourism, promotion of lesser-known destinations, supporting of sustainable accommodation, capacity building, as well as strategic marketing and branding.
Collaboration with Government ministries and stakeholders will be enhanced to allow for inclusive tourism development.
Q: How will you secure adequate funding for conservation activities, including anti-poaching operations, habitat restoration and community outreach programmes?
A: As has been clearly articulated by my predecessor, Dr Mangwanya, over the years, conservation is indeed an expensive business venture, as key areas such as law enforcement, staff costs, tourism and park infrastructure, research and monitoring and outreach, among others, need significant investments.
To secure adequate funding, we will deploy a multi-faceted approach that focuses on diversifying revenue streams, building strategic partnerships and leveraging emerging and innovative funding models.
We will continue engaging our Government and conservation partners who are working in designated landscapes across the country such as African Parks; African Wildlife Foundation; Carbon Green Africa; Conservation Force; Frankfurt Zoological Society; International Fund for Animal Welfare; International Union for Conservation of Nature; Peace Parks Foundation; Pioneer Africa; Sustainable Agriculture Trust; Safari Club International; and World Wide Fund for Nature.
Further, (re-) engagements with development partners will be enhanced.
We will continue with the efforts, in line with the Government mantra, whilst ensuring our partnerships and collaborations with conservation partners and local operators are continuously reviewed and enhanced.
Also, the authority will continue to submit funding proposals for projects that align with national and regional conservation priorities.
We are also working on developing models that will attract investors who prioritise both financial returns and environmental impact.
Innovative financing from initiatives such as biodiversity and carbon credits and green bonds will be explored.
Q: What measures will be taken to ensure that local communities benefit from conservation efforts and that their livelihoods are sustainable?
A: As highlighted earlier, the authority will implement several initiatives related to the revised CAMPFIRE model, trans-frontier conservation areas programmes and other innovative initiatives to ensure that local communities benefit directly from conservation efforts and that their livelihoods remain sustainable.
We will ensure that all our eight regions implement community projects in line with ZimParks Strategic Plan and approved budget.
Already, with the leadership of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, in February 2024, community engagements in human-wildlife hotspots in 12 districts across the country were undertaken and this provided invaluable insights through a bottom-up participatory approach on local community needs and priorities, which we will be pursuing through collaboration with our partners to enhance community livelihoods as part of our corporate social responsibility.
We will also prioritise training and capacity-building initiatives to equip community members with the necessary skills to manage and benefit from sustainable utilisation of their natural resources, enhancing the community beneficiation model that is already being implemented through the CAMPFIRE initiatives.
Partnerships with local businesses will be encouraged, fostering a green economy that supports both the protected areas and communities in wildlife conservation and livelihoods.
Q: How will you utilise innovative technologies, such as remote sensing and wildlife tracking, to enhance wildlife monitoring and management?
A: Adoption of innovative technologies in wildlife conservation in the 21st century is essential.
For instance, remote sensing and wildlife tracking will be used by the authority in the following areas: anti-poaching; research and monitoring; modelling and forecasting trends; climate change; wildlife corridors monitoring and protection; and human-wildlife conflict monitoring; and conflict mitigation, among other areas.
In addition, ZimParks intends to enhance its data-driven decision-making capabilities and use new technologies in various ways, including use of high-resolution satellite imagery to collect data from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in the parks and wildlife estate; deployment of in situ sensors for real-time data collection for various areas; use of drones for surveillance and monitoring; camera trapping technology in monitoring and surveys; telemetry; and real-time monitoring of law-enforcement activities, among other applications.
Tinaye Agere