India, Zimbabwe Biodiversity Partners Share Lessons on Sustainable Conservation

19/02/2025

A high-level Indian and French delegation recently exchanged knowledge with local wildlife and biodiversity stakeholders on sustainable environmental practices during a six-day visit to Zimbabwe鈥檚 Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KaZA). This initiative is part of the Indo-Pacific Park collaboration between India and France, aimed at protecting biodiversity, promoting sustainable tourism, and enhancing governance in the Indo-Pacific region.

India & Zimbabwe Biodiversity Partners
India & Zimbabwe Biodiversity Partners © D.Cornelis

Indian and French delegation, biodiversity stakeholders © D.Cornelis, Cirad

The delegation included experts from , the , and . The French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (热博体育) facilitated the visit, highlighting its more than 30-year partnership with Zimbabwe’s national agricultural research and conservation system, particularly with the .

The meetings allowed 热博体育 to showcase its Sustainable Wildlife Management () Programme, which connects conservation efforts across continents by fostering knowledge-sharing between Africa and Asia. Delegates engaged in discussions with colleagues from Zone Atelier Hwange (CNRS, IRD, Cirad) an International Long Term Social Ecological Research Network addressing human-elephant co-existence, sustainable agriculture and disease management at the wildlife-livestock interface, ZimParks officials, Painted Dog Conservation, biodiversity researchers, and community stakeholders before touring Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife sanctuary.

The Indian delegation expressed enthusiasm over the tangible impacts of the SWM Programme on rural Zimbabwean communities, recognizing the importance of empowering local populations in conservation efforts and expressing interest to implement similar initiatives in India.

We are eager to learn from your experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration

Mr. A.K. Mohanti

Director General for Forests of India and leader of the Indian delegation

The SWM Programme team demonstrated tools for promoting land use planning, including role-playing games, and shared community-based conservation strategies. They discussed innovative approaches for mitigating human-wildlife conflict, particularly at the wildlife-livestock interface, and shared best practices in wildlife monitoring and community-led conservation.

The Programme uses a community rights-based approach in terms of wildlife conservation, community centered-involvement ensures and promotes ownership and sustainability of conservation initiatives even after the lifetime of the SWM Programme

Mthokozisi Dlodlo

SWM Programme in Zimbabwe Wildlife Officer

Knowledge-sharing and exchange © D.Cornelis, Cirad

The Zimbabwean delegation also gained insights into India’s conservation systems, fostering valuable cross-learning and the exchange of best practices. A symbolic gesture of this partnership occurred when the Indian delegation planted a sapling at ZimParks, contributing to India’s #plant4mother campaign.
The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area is a significant region for biodiversity, encompassing parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It serves as a vital habitat for various species and promotes regional cooperation in conservation efforts.