The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
ZIMBABWE should explore carbon markets to derive enhanced benefits from its impressive wildlife conservation and elephant management track record, visiting International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) vice president for global programmes Dr Jimmiel Mandima has said.
Carbon markets are trading systems whereby countries can cash in on preserving their natural environments and reducing carbon emissions, as part of the strategy to fight climate change.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Dr Mandima, who is on a working visit to the country, said Zimbabwe has capacity to attract strategic partners to trade in carbon credits, buoyed by the open for business mantra.
“Zimbabwe should continue to explore the gamut of options to derive benefits from its impressive wildlife conservation and management track record.
“The evolving and developing carbon markets are an opportunity to tap into, as the habitats and wildlife resources are key providers for that which would generate revenue to be invested back into conservation and mitigating human-wildlife conflict,” he said.
“The open for business vision of the Second Republic is a great platform to attract strategic partners that can improve various tourism offerings for great markets, and many other sustainable nature-based value chains that are palatable to the global markets to be able to earn the revenue needed to finance conservation. Following this path guarantees success as these are options and solutions that have no controversy.”
He said IFAW will this year release more than US$1 million towards the refurbishment of tourism facilities and elephant conservation in Hwange.
This is part of the US$5 million the organisation pledged to apportion in annual disbursements.
Since 2020, IFAW has disbursed over US$3 million and Dr Mandima said he is satisfied that the money has been put to good use.
“IFAW is sure to invest at least US$1 million plus this year towards improved refurbishment of tourism facilities at the Hwange Main Camp and Sinamatella; additional patrol vehicles and equipment to cover other sectors of the park; additional scooping of strategic water pans for improved game water supply; park plan updates; community engagement to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and start setting up for community-private-partnership livelihood ventures.”
“The conservation partnership has been a resounding success and I compliment ZimParks for putting in place financial management and procurement processes that have been very transparent, efficient and effective to deliver on agreed milestones.”
Dr Mandima commended Zimbabwe for being a key player in wild conservation in the context of IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative.
“Room to Roam is an exciting initiative and new approach to facilitate the safe passage and dispersal of elephants across a network of connected areas suitable for their wellbeing and safety.
“It is key to secure all suitable spaces and habitats that can be used by elephants through proper consultative planning with landowners, thereby connecting the now fragmented parks, for safe movement between land units within the country, and between countries from East to Southern Africa, focusing on the key elephant population clusters,” he said.
“Zimbabwe is a key player in Room to Roam given its track record as a renowned leader in wildlife conservation, with close to 30 percent of land set aside for wildlife and nature; with the second largest elephant population in the wild; being part of key regional transfrontier conservation areas that have been agreed by SADC (Southern African Development Community) as hubs for regional collaboration to enhance wildlife movement with less conflict and as engines for wildlife-based economies.”
