Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is stepping up efforts to strengthen regional and global collaboration in wildlife conservation with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) declaring its commitment to integrating biodiversity protection with sustainable development and community empowerment.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inaugural Zimparks International Wildlife Conservation Symposium in Harare, Zimparks director-general Professor Edson Gandiwa said the gathering marked a new chapter in the country’s conservation leadership and its role in shaping the future of African wildlife management.
“This symposium provides a vital platform for interdisciplinary collaboration where experts can exchange ideas, explore emerging trends and craft innovative solutions that promote coexistence between people and wildlife,” he said.
The two-day symposium has drawn participation from over 100 delegates across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region including South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.
It brought together conservation scientists, policy-makers and development partners to tackle issues such as climate change, sustainable tourism and transboundary resource management.
Prof Gandiwa said Zimbabwe was using the event to showcase its people-centred conservation models, particularly the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE), which channels revenue from regulated trophy hunting into community projects like schools, clinics and boreholes.
“CAMPFIRE remains one of Africa’s most successful examples of linking wildlife conservation to community benefits,” he said.
“When people see value in wildlife, they become active stewards of their natural resources.”
He said Zimparks was promoting innovative technologies such as Earth Ranger and SMART tools to enhance transparency and efficiency in wildlife monitoring and management.
“We are embracing technology to strengthen governance and data-driven decision-making in conservation,” he said.
“At the same time, we are building partnerships with regional neighbours through joint patrols, intelligence sharing and coordinated efforts in managing shared ecosystems like the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Area.”
Prof Gandiwa said community engagement and youth participation were critical to the long-term success of conservation efforts.
“We want to elevate the voices of communities and young people in the conservation discourse,” he said.
“Sustainability depends on inclusivity, transparency and local ownership.”
The symposium, he said, also aligns Zimbabwe’s conservation agenda with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrates the country’s dedication to balancing ecological preservation with economic and social progress.
“Our partnerships with organisations such as International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), African Parks, Peace Parks Foundation and the Frankfurt Zoological Society underscore that conservation is not an isolated effort—it thrives on cooperation,” he said.
The symposium, running under the theme “Innovating for Sustainable Conservation and Development in Africa,” is expected to yield practical strategies for resource management, attract new international partnerships and reaffirm Zimbabwe’s position as a leader in African wildlife conservation.
