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Zambian Ornithological Society
- IBA Projects
What are we doing in Zambia?
Zambia’s IBA
programme was officially launched in August 2005 and with the help of
the BirdLife Africa Secretariat and the Norwegian Ornithological
Society ZOS successfully applied for funding of a 3 year project
“Together for Birds and People in Zambia -
local participation in conservation of key biodiversity areas
"(2005-2007).
This project was funded by NORAD and the aim was to bring 11 IBAs to a
higher
conservation status
by the end of 2007. The project ran successfully and a further 3 year
funding grant was made for a follow up project "Local participation in the
sustainable use of selected important biodiversity areas in Zambia -
working together for birds and people” (2008 – 2010). The
project aims
at protecting and monitoring a network of priority
sites for biodiversity conservation in Zambia, through education and
awareness building as well as the promotion of sustainable resource use
in communities living in or around these sites. The project is
implemented by ZOS mainly
through selected Schools and Site Support
Groups in 15 of the Important Bird Areas in Zambia.
“Promoting
poverty alleviation strategies in IBAs through enhanced biodiversity
conservation, sustainable enterprises and strong partnerships – for
birds and people” (2011 – 2013)
This
project is once again funded by NORAD through the Norwegian
Ornithological Society
and the aim is to continue building up the awareness of people living
in the IBAs of the importance of the biodiversity in the areas that
they live. ZOS aims to assist them with alternative livelihood
strategies in order to make better use of their environment.
This project also aims at signposting the IBAs so that people living in
Zambia are aware of the importance of these Important Bird Areas.
“Instituting
effective monitoring of Protected Areas (IBAs) as a contribution to
reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in Africa” (2007 to 2011)
This Project, financed by the EU
through RSPB,
aims at training Biodiversity Monitors in IBAs that fall in Protected
Areas. These monitors are to submit data to ZOS on an annual basis in
order to compile a yearly Status and Trends Report that is distributed
to interested parties and organisations. The data is also uplifted onto
the World Biodiversity Data Base so that access to the information can
be made by international organisations.
Training of Monitors and collection of data is successfully completed
in 28 of the 32 IBAs that fall within Protected Areas. Status and
Trends Reports have been compiled for 2008 and 2009 and the 2010 report
is currently being collated.
--> Click here
to see or
download the 2009 Status and Trends Report.
"Global Environment
Fund Grants Programme -
Support for Mutulanganga IBA conservation and
Mutulanganga Community eco-tourism initiatives"
This
project aims
at poverty reduction through livelihood enhancement
activities. The project is to develop eco-tourism in the IBA as well
assisting other local industries like fishing and traditional crafts
(pottery and basketry).
The Project also plans to enhance Biodiversity
Conservation by improving the protection of the IBA through Site
Support Group Capacity Building. Thus empowering the indigenous people
to preserve and maintain their environment as well as their culture.
The Community are in the process of building an Eco-tourism Camp that
will in future be able to fund further activities in the area.
Community Bird Guides have been trained in the IBA and ZOS is helping
the Women’s groups in the area market their pots and baskets. This
project has
also provided loans to small scale farming projects to help the people
in the area get ahead with improved farming activities
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