Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the country’s natural heritage remains protected and thrives harmoniously with people for generations.
The commitment comes when IFAW and ZimParks marked five years of a ground-breaking, value-driven conservation partnership that has had a lasting impact on people, habitats and wildlife.
IFAW president and chief executive Azzedine Downes expressed gratitude for the unwavering support received from government and people of Zimbabwe.
“This is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve taken with the people and government of Zimbabwe.
“From the beginning, we understood that by working hand-in-hand with our well-meaning partners, including the esteemed communities, we could amplify our impact and ensure that people and wildlife can thrive together,” he said.
Downes also expressed their commitment to collaboration with the Zimbabwean government.
“As we embark on the next phase of our journey, we reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with the Zimbabwean government to enhance the sustainable management of wildlife, support alternative livelihoods for communities coexisting with wildlife and foster resilient ecosystems,” he said.
ZimParks director-general Edson Gandiwa said together with IFAW, ZimParks had become a force to reckon with and successfully tackled the most complex conservation challenges facing the Hwange-Matetsi-Zambezi landscape.
“The milestones we achieved underscore the power of collaboration and a shared vision,” Gandiwa said.
Since its inception in 2019, this collaboration has strengthened wildlife protection, enhanced habitat management and tourism development and empowered local communities.
The partnership has notably contributed to transforming the iconic Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest protected area.
Some key milestones include upgrading the Makona Ranger Station, providing ranger equipment and mobility, supporting the upgrading of tourist camps and lodges, and constructing the Hwange National Park one-stop access pavilion to enhance visitor experiences and boost tourism.
In the communities adjacent to the giant park, we the partners, have installed predator-proof Bomas to foster co-existence and work with schools surrounding the park to promote environmental stewardship.
To date, the two organisations have invested over US$10 million, which has been directed towards strengthening law enforcement, enhancing the well-being of rangers, embracing cutting-edge conservation technology and promoting co-existence.
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