Project empowers people to protect wildlife reserve

European Union (EU) head of cooperation Ivo Hoefkens has expressed satisfaction with a project that has empowered communities in Nsanje to protect Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve.

The EU-funded project, implemented by Churches Action in Relief and Development (Card) in partnership with Trocare, has empowered people around the reserve through goat pass-on initiative, beekeeping, solar energy kiosk and reforestation.

Speaking on Thursday during the project monitoring visit  to the reserve, which lies in traditional authorities Mbenje and Tengani, Hoefkens said he was pleased with the project’s impact on people’s lives.

He said it was pleasing that the three-year project has empowered people to protect animals and the mopane trees.

“What I have seen specifically, is the hotspot area for tourism and there is potential to make it a hotspot for tourists,” he said.

Trocare country director Jeannette Wijnants said they have been implementing the project with other partners to protect wildlife.

She said people poach animals and cut down trees for timber and charcoal due to lack of income generating activities.

“But we have looked at ways to support communities to have alternative ways to generate income to stop depending on resources from the wildlife reserve,” said Wijnants.

Card executive director Melton Luhanga said despite the project facing challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they have met the project’s goals.

“We distributed goats on pass on programme to communities to venture in livestock farming. We also introduced a solar energy kiosk to enable community members tap power to run small-scale businesses such as barbershops, video shows and refrigeration,” he said.

Luhanga also said the communities are keeping bees to earn a living.

Department of National Parks and Wildlife deputy director responsible for education and extension services Mary Chilimampunga said the project has helped people living around protected areas to understand the benefits of protecting nature.

She said tourism depends on the availability of animals and  other natural  resources.

Card is implementing a Building Climate Change Resilience of Communities Surrounding Wildlife Protected Areas Project in the district.