AWF Annual Report 2012 (English) Page 12

Achieving Balance Between

Land Reform and Conservation

n the 1990s, Zimbabwe was a conservation leader
in Africa. via an assemblage of national parks,

the cAmpFire community conservation areas,
and private conservancies, nearly 30 percent of the
country was at one time under wildlife conservation.
even now, the country hosts a significant population
of elephants and black rhinos, wild dogs, leopards,
and other African wildlife.

yet Zimbabwe's conservation areas--and the

wildlife they safeguard--are increasingly at risk.
Like many other African countries, Zimbabwe
initiated a land reform process upon independence
to reconcile land allocation issues. this has been
a complex process and has led to unplanned
settlement, negative press, and a massive drop
in tourism, all resulting in a steep economic
decline for the country.

Last year, at the request of the Zimbabwe
parks and Wildlife management Authority,

AWF evaluated Zimbabwe's wildlife sector as
it relates to land reform and conservation. AWF
found that all of Zimbabwe's conservation areas--

state, private, and communal--are at risk, with
wildlife populations declining and habitat loss
increasing. the loss of tourism revenue has made

conservation management and wildlife
protection extremely difficult. AWF made
a series of recommendations on how to
address these issues.

At the authority's request, AWF is also

developing various models for Zimbabwe's
conservation estate to ensure economic,
ecological, and social sustainability.

AWF is drawing on lessons learned
from its experiences in east Africa and

the rest of the continent, as well as incorporating
global best practices. one of the key components

AWF is recommending is the meaningful integration

of communities into conservation solutions. the
involvement and empowerment of communities is
one of the common success factors for conservation
throughout Africa.

Despite the challenges, if Zimbabwe takes the
right steps, it can again showcase its leadership
in wildlife conservation. moreover, it has an
opportunity to support the direct engagement of

Zimbabwean communities in conservation--which

would result in more sustainable wildlife and land
conservation throughout the country.

With support from the CitiFoundation, AWF has been working to assess potential opportunities

for local communities that own land in the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve.

The empowerment

of communities is

one of the common

success factors

for conservation