NEW DEAL FOR NATURE, PEOPLE CAMPAIGN AN ECONOMIC BOOST

HELEN ZULU writes@SunZambianTHE conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is imperative for Zambia to attain its 2030 sustainable development goals, Lands and Natural resources minister Jean Kapata has said. Ms Kapata noted that the triple burden of nature loss, climate change and Covid-19 the country faces has slowed down economic performance leaving the population […]

NEW DEAL FOR NATURE, PEOPLE CAMPAIGN AN ECONOMIC BOOST
HELEN ZULU writes@SunZambianTHE conservation and sustainable use of natural resources is imperative for Zambia to attain its 2030 sustainable development goals, Lands and Natural resources minister Jean Kapata has said.Ms Kapata noted that the triple burden of nature loss, climate change and Covid-19 the country faces has slowed down economic performance leaving the population and Nature more vulnerable as communities rely on finite biological resources to survive.She said fluctuations of copper prices on the international market as well as the rapid decline of nature in Zambia as the population grows re-quires the country to rethink the economic development model.Speaking during the launch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zambia New Deal for Nature and People (ND4NP) recently, Ms Kapata said there was need to reduce reliance on copper and water for energy and seek stronger monitoring the decline of finite natural resources and strong-er investments in nature protection.“It is sad that we are losing vital plants and animals. For example the country has 20,000 Kafue black Lechwe compared to 250,000 Lechwe the country had in the 1930s and we need to protect our nature together for posterity to benefit,” she stressed.“It is our view as a government that the time to reimagine our relationship with nature is now. Treat natural capital the way financial capital in our economy. We need to focus our national and local development efforts towards regenerative and nature based solutions to sustainable devel-opment.”Ms Kapata said her ministry will seek cabinet ratification to commit between 2.5 to three million hectares of land for forest restoration in Zambia as a contribution towards Africa forest landscape 100 million (Afr100) initiative.She also said the ministry has committed to the development of a forest national strategy on forest landscape restoration to link with other eco-logical infrastructure and a policy and advocacy framework for restoration targeting headwaters and recharge areas of major rivers.“I call on all leaders in Government, chiefs and business leaders to take account of the cost of their activities on Nature and take action to stop the nature crisis by adopting policies and practices that will propel the country towards a sustained green and just economic recovery that creates opportunities for our people,” she said.WWF Zambia country director Nachilala Nkombo said there was need for urgent action at local, national and global levels to reverse nature loss and secure us – and future generations.“We are losing our natural capital at a faster rate than it can replenish itself – we need leadership to reverse this trend- hence the new deal for people and nature,” she said.WWF Zambia has in the recent past handed over various equipment worth over K1 million to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to strengthen the delivery of its mandate to protect and conserve wildlife.The donation is focused on the need for DNPW to effectively work in the Kalabo Area Management Unit which covers the Liuwa plains national Park and the Upper West Zambezi Game Management Area (GMA).Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Auxilia Ponga said the donation is a demonstration of Government commitment to working with various partners and stakeholders in promoting conservation and wildlife protection in national parks and GMAs.Speaking during the handover, Ms Ponga said the equipment will go a long way in enhancing operations.Liuwa National Park is a protected area for safeguarding biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem, preserving important habitats, build resilience to climate change and providing food security, conserving natural resources and driving economic success.“Liuwa National Park has one of the oldest conservation history in Africa and is a perfect example of how people and wildlife can coexist in a shared landscape.“It is in this regard that on behalf of the ministry of tourism and Arts, I reiterate that this equipment will go a long way to effectiveness in the national Park through patrols and monitoring of wildlife,” she said.Ms Ponga said the equipment would be used for the intended purpose and would be safeguarded.WWF Zambia country director Nachilala Nkombo said this activity is one of many WWF is partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and DNPW to assist the country to achieve a diversified tourism sector in the Seventh National Development Plan by strengthening the capacity of the DNPW to manage national parks.“This handover culminates the efforts aimed at strengthening the capacity through the purchase and donation of equipment estimated at over K1,024,060 for this year alone.“Some of the items donated today include Toyota Land cruiser single cab, radio systems and cyber tracking equipment, motor bikes and camping beds and laptops among other things,” Ms Nkombo said.She said WWF believed increased public investments in wildlife conservation tourism across the country would double the income generated from the tourism sector and would offer a channel for quick and sustained green recovery effort post Covid-19.Ms Nkombo reaffirmed WWFs commitment to protected area network in the Upper Zambezi landscape such as Liuwa, West Lunga and Sioma Ngwezi National Parks as these areas held a vast natural capital for Zambia with huge potential for socio-economic development.She disclosed that WWF’s commitment to Liuwa started as early as 2003 through support to the African Parks in strengthening the management of the park and since 2009 WWF had invested over €2 million in support of conservation efforts in the landscape across multiple partners.In March, the world’s largest terrestrial trans-frontier conservation area (TFCA), the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA), received a major boost to its eco-logical and socio-economic development, in the shape of a €16.9 million Euro contribution from the Dutch Postcode Lottery.The lottery’s Dream Fund grant was awarded to the World Wide Fund for Nature, Peace Parks Foundation and African Parks to assist the KAZA partner states to protect the region’s globally significant wildlife populations, counter the potential effects of climate change, safeguard and sus-tainably harness shared resources across borders, and greatly enhance the well-being of local communities.Located in the heart of southern Africa, between the Okavango and Zambezi river basins, KAZA brings together areas with a mosaic of land uses, including protected areas that straddle the boundaries of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, into one cross-border ecosystem the size of France. KAZA is home to approximately half of Africa’s savannah elephants, 25% of Africa’s wild dogs, almost 20% of the continent’s lions, and 15% of the world’s wild cheetahs.Three protected areas have been identified for development to ensure that elephants and other wildlife thrive while generating income from tour-ism for local communities. These are Luengue-Luiana National Park in Angola, and Sioma Ngwezi and Kafue National Parks in Zambia.Active protection of wildlife and biodiversity will encourage migratory animals to the safe havens, which in turn will open the door to increased tourism revenues. This will have a direct positive effect on communities living in these areas in terms of jobs and income.Director of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Dr Chuma Simukonda commended WWF for being a great partner.“We have had challenges in managing Sioma and I think WWF for recognising the potential for Sioma Ngwezi National Park, and decided to help in the management of the area. The potential is that it can easily be translated into an economic engine of the country,” he said.