It is a great honour to officiate at this occasion in one of Zimbabwe’s iconic national parks. Hwange National Park is the largest National Park in Zimbabwe and is part of the Kavango Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA). It is endowed with wildlife resources that form the back bone of both the country’s and region’s tourism industry.
According to a recent African elephant survey, the park carries some 45 000 elephants which constitute about twice its ecological carrying capacity. The park therefore demonstrates the seriousness with which the Zimbabwe Government values its natural heritage.
Ladies and Gentleman, the Government of Zimbabwe recognises that the natural resources play a key role in socio-economic development at the local, regional and national levels.
It is therefore befitting that we are all gathered here to launch the Hwange Sanyati Biological Corridor (HSBC) project under the theme “Community Participation For Sustainable Biodiversity Management” and this gives us the impetus to integrate community participation in natural resources management along the corridor.
The interaction between people and the environment is not always in harmony and this has resulted in a degraded landscape with negative impacts on both the environment and people in this region. This project therefore presents an opportunity to enhance natural resources management, promote habitat connectivity and enhance the livelihoods of communities.
Given its spatial geographical location, the project occupies key habitats for wildlife, livestock and more importantly, people.
This core habitation causes human-wildlife conflict, which is already exerting its toll on communities through destruction of gardens, crops and killing of livestock.
Other challenges being faced are related to climate change. The shortages of water for wildlife and livestock in the region will cause wildlife to travel further outside the protected areas in search of grazing and water. Climate change effects are expected to intensify in the corridor due to more frequent and intense droughts being experienced.
To address some of the foregoing challenges, the Government of Zimbabwe secured a US5.6 million grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through the World Bank to fund this Hwange Sanyati Biological Corridor (HSBC) project. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Zimbabwe is supporting the government in implementing this important project.
Since the project will focus on three environmental focal areas, that is, biodiversity conservation, climate change and land degradation. The project will be implemented using an integrated approach to enhance impact and synergies among the players.
The appropriateness of the HSBC project is that it promotes corridor sustainability and connectivity as the project will work closely with our neighboring countries through the KAZA TFCA and other regional forums.
The Government of Zimbabwe expects the project to contribute to achieving environmental sustainability as obligated by the millennium development goal seven. Improving the livelihoods of communities in the project area through community based natural resources management programs should also be one of the deliverables of this project.
The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) is one such program that must be enhanced for greater beneficiation for communities. Government would like to see communities living with our natural resources embarking in projects which will sustainably utilise and manage these resources.
The CAMPFIRE program should not depend on wildlife only but diversify and include other natural resources for income generation. CAMPFIRE should significantly improve the living standards of communities and be an incentive for community participation in managing these natural resources.
The thrust of these programs should primarily be to eradicate poverty as enshrined in the ZIM-ASSET as this specifically relates to sustainable utilisation of natural resources and human development. This helps our communities to value wildlife and other environmental resources appropriately and ensure conservation.
The Government of Zimbabwe therefore welcomes the funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through World Bank and the project implementation relationship with WWF Zimbabwe. It is also grateful for the enthusiasm and strong project ownership that has been demonstrated by participating communities and their traditional leadership. Such initiatives are supported by the Government of Zimbabwe as they are in line with the aspirations and deliverables of the ZIM-ASSET.
Together we should be able to achieve sustainable biodiversity management for the benefit of our people in the corridor and nation as a whole. I therefore look forward to further constructive engagement and partnerships beyond this project.
It is now my singular honour and priviledge to declare the Hwange Sanyati Biological Corridor Project officially launched.
I Thank You. Siyabonga. Twalumba. Tatenda.