Kaindu Conservation Project
Current initiative
Published
Elephants drinking.
In 2015, Kaindu Natural Resources Trust (KNRT) embarked on an initiative to run a community game ranch in partnership with Royal Kafue and with support from The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The initiative is aimed at supporting community-based natural resource management.
Lead
Location
The project area is located on the eastern part of the Kafue National Park and on the southern part of Lunga Luswshi Game Management Area, in Kaindu Chiefdom.
The poaching and wildlife trade problem
Species affected African Elephant Loxodonta africana , Lion Panthera leo , Roan antelope Hippotragus equinus , Sable antelope Hippotragus niger
Products in tradeAnimal meat, skins and bones, and ivory
Overview of the problem
Generally, poachers come from outside the community but bribe community members into not reporting poaching incidents. Community members are primarily motivated to receive these bribes due to a lack of alternative income sources.
Elephant poaching for ivory is a particular concern in the area.
The anti-IWT initiative
The objective behind establishing a community game ranch is to direct 100% of the benefits of natural resources to community members. Benefits primarily come from hunting revenues, which fund community projects such as female shelters at local clinics, houses for teachers and other community infrastructure.
The community has been involved throughout in decision-making. Existing community structures, for example Community Resource Boards, Village Action Groups and Traditional Leaders, are used to hold consultative meetings.
The strategy
Strengthening disincentives for illegal behaviour
The initiative includes deploying and training village scouts from the community. Scouts receive a salary plus performance-based payments. They are also provided with all necessary uniforms and equipment as an extra incentive.
As well as scouts, monetary incentives for community intelligence are provided to community informers who report illegal activities and who sensitise the community on the benefits of good governance of natural resources.
Increasing incentives for wildlife stewardship
Decreasing the costs of living with wildlife
Increasing livelihoods that are not related to wildlife
All monetary benefits derived from the community game ranch are used to fund clinics, schools, etc. Once funds are released, the community decides on their preferred projects though consultative meetings.
Build/and or support sense of community ownership or stewardship
Further detailThe initiative supports community ownership by involving everyone in decision-making processes.
Improving education and awareness
Further detailThe initiative has also formed education clubs in community schools to raise awareness of the importance and effects of good management of natural resources.
Has the initiative made a difference?
Assessments by Community Liaison Assistants show that the community is much more aware of the importance of effective management of natural resources. In addition, animal populations are on the rise and poaching incidents have been reduced with the help of scouts and community informants.
What works and why
Working with the community, and engaging with different community structures, has greatly contributed to the success of the initiative.
Support from partners TNC and Royal Kafue has also been essential for success.
Factors for success
Supportive, multi-stakeholder partnerships with a shared vision
Transparent and accountable distribution of benefits to local communities
Clearly defined tenure or resource use rights
What doesn’t work and why
Delays in issuing a title deed delayed development of the community game ranch. This has been a problem for funding, as donors will only support the project if the tenure is well established through the title deed.
Factors that limited or hindered success
Lack of supportive national policy/legislation for devolved governance of natural resources
Lack of coordinated and coherent sectoral policies/legislation (For example, land use planning, agricultural etc...)
Lack of long-term donor support that is flexible, adaptive and/or based on realistic time goals
Organisers, donors and partners
Partners: Royal Kafue, DNPW, Kaindu Community Resource Board
Donors: The Nature Conservancy
For further information contact Chisoshi Bornface (bornface.chisoshi@gmail.com).