ZAMBIA and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) are working to attract more investment into wildlife conservation and tourism to improve the livelihoods of local communities.
This follows a meeting in Lusaka between IFAW President and Chief Executive Officer Azzedine Downes and Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary Evans Muhanga.
Mr Muhanga said conservation partnerships were important to Zambia’s target of attracting five million international tourists annually by 2031.
He said communities living alongside wildlife should benefit through job creation, improved livelihoods and tourism opportunities.
Mr Muhanga thanked IFAW for supporting wildlife conservation, infrastructure development, anti-poaching operations and efforts to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, particularly in the Kasungu-Lukusuzi landscape.
He said IFAW had helped build 51 staff houses across five wildlife management sectors and supported ranger operations and community conservation programmes.
Mr Muhanga called for increased investment in protective fencing, early warning systems and support for communities affected by wildlife.
Meanwhile, Mr Downes said IFAW would continue working with Zambia to help people and wildlife coexist while creating tourism investment opportunities.
He said the organisation would support the country’s tourism growth through international partnerships, new conservation approaches and efforts to promote Zambia’s conservation work globally.
The meeting also welcomed plans by IFAW to open a country office in Zambia.
Both parties called for closer cooperation with traditional leaders to encourage communities to participate in wildlife conservation.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by Ministry of Tourism Principal Public Relations Officer Nelly Chewe.
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