Conservation in Zambia

Zambia is one of the most industrialized nations in Africa and is currently struggling with the side-effects of industrialisation. Acid rain, pollution and lack of adequate water treatment facilities, as well as poaching and agricultural encroachment into game management areas are slowing efforts to conserve Zambia's natural resources.

Zambia has signed several international environment agreements. Now organisations are starting to address important environmental and social issues in the country. Sustainable tourism is clearly one of the best ways in which Zambia can protect its resources and uplift its communities, while generating revenue for the country.

In many areas, there is conflict between the needs of wildlife and of the local communities, as they compete for land and resources. Once Zambians see the money from conservation and tourism being used to improve their lives they will want to support tourism initiatives. If they can benefit directly from the wildlife, they will have a reason to protect it. Only by involving and converting local people will conservation in Zambia become sustainable in the long term.

There are already programmes in place that operate in this way and they are showing positive results. There has been a decrease in poaching, as well as the creation of jobs, sustainable land use and an increased flow of foreign currency into the country.

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