The European Union is funding wildlife conservation efforts in Zimbabwe, such as anti-poaching in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (LTCA) and other Transboundary Conservation Areas (TCA).

LTCA is a huge game reserve that covers parts of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique, while TCA are borderless national parks.

EU head of delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, says the projects will enhance community-based cross-border co-operation on natural resources management, with particular attention to wildlife conservation in terms of anti-poaching, human-wildlife conflict and illegal wildlife trafficking mitigation.

“From our own experience on the ground, supported by a number of reputable studies and research, we can realistically say that communities are our first line of defence against poaching and land degradation,” says Olkkonen.

Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary, Munesu Munodawafa, says the EU’s initiative complements the existing efforts in community-led conservation and sustainable natural resources management in support of conservation, sustainable rural development and livelihood improvement.