Wetlands Project Research Articles

The people's role in wetlands management: the Zambian initiative

The WWF-Zambia Wetlands Project is an established Project of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Service under the Zambia Ministry of Tourism. The Project is supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature International (WWF-I) in association with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The Core Projects Areas are the Kafue Flats and Bangweulu Swamps wetlands, areas rich in fish and wildlife resources. The Kafue flats are also important for hydro-electric power generation, agricultural irrigation, urban water supply, and natural grazing for traditional cattle. After years of neglect and the exclusion of the aspirations and interests of local people, the WWF-Zambia Wetlands Project was established in order to integrate local people with the management, conservation and sustainable development of the Project Areas. It is expected that this approach will lead to increasing benefits for the local communities which in turn will provide greater incentives for the proper management of the Project Areas. The two central themes of the Project, sustainable natural resource management and community development, are thus being woven together by the Project. This is being done by establishing a formal infrastructure of Community Development Units based on existing, functioning traditional systems of Chiefdoms. These are represented by local Authorities which are linked to central Government through District Councils, the Project and other line departments active in the Project Areas. A system is evolving through the National Parks and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Conservation Revolving Fund whereby a proportion of funds generated in the Project Areas are returned to the local communities (the Admade Programme). It is intended that sufficient revenues will be generated eventually to support local community development initiatives, and assist central Government with its natural resource management responsibilities by employing local community members to support activities in the field. The Project is still in the initial stage of a controlled experiment in wetlands resource management. Whilst many improvements in the Project's approach are anticipated in the years to come, it has already reopened the door for local communities to participate in and benefit from the management of their traditional resources.