10 March 2020, Mucheni, Zimbabwe - Gwanda Munsaka has been a resident of ward 4 of Mucheni since birth. He is seen on the road coming home with wood he has sourced to build fencing for his home. He says this will help to protect his animals from hyena attacks. The Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation area is home to a great diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Each year, the area experiences large-scale migrations of megafauna. Whilst rural communities in the Mucheni (Zimbabwe) and Simalaha/ Inyasemu (Zambia) Community Conservancies have distinct cultures and local governments, they depend on hunting and fishing for both food and income. However, livelihoods are threatened by erratic rainfall, poor soils, and human wildlife conflicts.
The SWM Project in KaZa is promoting a sustainable use of natural resources, including wildlife and fisheries, by the Community Conservancies. It is also developing alternative sources of proteins, such as livestock husbandry and aquaculture. The project is being implemented by CIRAD in coordination with the governments of both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Recent activities include: community Land Use Planning; Human Wildlife Conflict strategies; baseline studies (hydrology, ornithology, non-timber forest products, livestock development); data collection (food and wild meat consumption); water resource development (bore holes for people and wildlife); partnerships with local communities; and collaboration with Panthera and the Peace Parks Foundation.