Transforming the Global Biodiversity Framework into Tangible Action in Zambia

Zambia is home to one of Africa's great wildlife landscapes, the Sioma Ngwezi Management Complex (SNMC), part of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Declared a game reserve a century ago by the Litunga of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) and gazetted as a national park in 1972, SNMC management actively involves the BRE, honoring indigenous rights and traditional ecological knowledge. Today, the SNMC faces mounting pressure from corridor encroachment, uncontrolled fire, illegal logging, and bushmeat poaching. This project aims to close that gap by strengthening national conservation action, inclusive governance, and community engagement to secure the long-term future of this landscape and the people who depend on it.

A 20-year co-management agreement was recently signed by Government, WWF Zambia, and Peace Parks Foundation, and alongside the BRE, a SNMC Foundation will be established to facilitate investment. Building on this agreement, the project will improve management effectiveness of SNMC to reduce wildlife decline and support communities on governance, livelihoods and managing human wildlife conflict to enhance participation in community-based natural resource management. The project will pilot national strategies for Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and Access and Benefit Sharing under the Nagoya Protocol—directly advancing Zambia's commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework and supporting KMGBF Targets 1, 3, 13, 19, 22 and 23.