Jamestone Smion Kamwendo

Scaling out/up environmental education and awareness campaign in fighting against poaching of threatened wildlife species and environmental degradation on the Zambian side of Kasungu Wildlife Reserve through community participation, Malawi

Agness Wyala conducting sensitization meeting in one of the villages in Kasungu Wildlife Reserve on Zambian side.

Kasungu Wildlife Reserve (KWR) covers a total land area of 2,316 km2 and 63% of the total land area is in Malawi while 37% is in Zambia. The wildlife reserve is rich in fauna and flora and it also harbours some of the charismatic species of wildlife such as cheetahs and elephants. And from 2004-2005 with funding from Rufford Small Grats Foundation, the Community-Based Natural Resources Management Conservation Society of Malawi (CBNRMCSM) managed to implement effective environmental education and conservation programmes on the Malawian side of the Kasungu Wildlife Reserve (KWR) on protection of threatened cheetahs and other wildlife. Because of the introduction of effective management and conservation interventions, cases of poaching and environmental degradation on the Malawian side of KWR have completely ceased. However, these problems are currently being experienced on the Zambian side of the KWR. The environmental and wildlife problems that are being experienced range from deforestation, bushfires, habitat encroachment, poaching and production of charcoal in the reserve. These problems still threaten the survival of unique fauna and flora in KWR.

It is against this background that CBNRMCSM intends to scale up/out same activities that were implemented on the Malawian side of KWR in order to address these environmental and wildlife problems that are being experienced on the Zambian side of KWR. Activities planned include organising and conducting environmental education and awareness campaigns, and involving local communities and stakeholders in the implementation of these activities as one way of empowering them to take active role in management and conservation of nature in the area.

For more information contact jkamwendo3@yahoo.co.uk

Read about his previous RSG project at http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/Projects/JamestoneSmionKamwendo

Project Update: August 2008

Traditional dances performed by local women to take environmental messages to the communities.

In a move to sensitize and create awareness in the communities on the hazards of wanton tree cutting and wildlife poaching, the project team from 7-18th July and 4th -15th August 2008 has been conducting sensitisation meetings, awareness campaigns and public lectures around the project site. The campaigns have been in the form of traditional dances and poem recitals (see photo) all bearing environmental themes. Another importance communication tool that has been employed to inform and sensitise the communities and stakeholders about the project and its goal is the electronic media mainly local radio and television in Zambia. The communities after being sensitised on the dangers of deforestation and wildlife poaching, they indicated willingness to participate in the project and the impact has been that many people especially women are taking part in disseminating awareness messages to the communities on the importance and management of nature and environmental protection.