In mid-July, amid the breathtaking landscapes of the Mwandi District in southwestern Zambia, a mosaic of nations came together at the Bi-Annual Conservancy Conference, hosted by the Simalaha Community Conservancy.
The conference was organised at the initiative of the Simalaha Community Conservancy. Under the theme ‘Transfrontier Conservation: Embracing the Community Conservancy Model for Inclusive Biodiversity Conservation and Improved Local Livelihoods’, the four-day event provided a platform for in-depth discussions about community-based natural resource management across the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Over 300 delegates from Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, and Angola attended the conference, with each delegation bringing with them a tapestry of knowledge, traditions, and aspirations, blending a story of cross-border collaboration for community development and conservation. Among the attendees were six royal highnesses from Zambia, standing as guardians of cultural heritage and tradition. The presence of the Permanent Secretary from the Western Province of Zambia throughout the four full days of the conference demonstrated the unwavering commitment of Zambia’s government.
The conference became a hub of collaboration, drawing in representatives from renowned NGOs such as Panthera, The Nature Conservancy, WWF, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society. Traditional authorities from both Namibia and Zambia, as well as governmental bodies like the Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Community Development Department, added layers of expertise and wisdom to the dialogue.
At the heart of the event was a deep commitment to learning. The delegates engaged in vibrant exchanges, embracing the opportunity to learn from one another. The conference allowed these conservancy pioneers to share their successes, ideas, and challenges, nurturing a sense of shared purpose in forging a sustainable model of community development in the region. Through this exchange, a powerful conclusion has emerged, and the stance of Zambia’s government representatives is resolute: the community conservancy model is the path forward. This unity of purpose marks a significant milestone in the successful lobbying for community-based natural resource management.
As the conference drew to a close, the energy in the air was palpable—a shared conviction to champion the community conservancy model for the greater good. To learn more about the Simalaha Community Conservancy, go to peaceparks.org/simalaha, or to plan your own vacation in the conservancy, visit zambiatourism.com.
