CLZ Annual report 2015

1

Conservation Lower Zambezi Annual Report 2015

Photo credits Alan Bonella Kyle Branch Francois d’Elbée Matthew Hood Shaina Irwin Brendan Raisbeck

2

Annual Report for Conservation Lower Zambezi

CLZ is a non-profit conservation organisation committed to the protection and sustainable use of the wildlife and natural resources of the Lower Zambezi, Zambia. The organisation aims to achieve this through Wildlife Protection, Environmental Education and a Community Support programme.

3

1

Contents Conservation Lower Zambezi – Background

6

CLZ Programmes Wildlife Protection Environmental Education Community Support

7 13 16

Base Camp and Staff Accommodation Solar System Staff Training and Development Lower Zambezi Safari Guide Training

21 21 22 24

Carbon Neutral Memberships

25 26

Financial Report 2015 Annual Budget 2016 Fundraising Events Governance

27 28 29 30

Abbreviations & Acronyms: AWF - African Wildlife Foundation BCP - BioCarbon Partners CLZ - Conservation Lower Zambezi GMA - Game Management Area

IEF - International Elephant Foundation LZNP - Lower Zambezi National Park USFWS - US Fish & Wildlife Services WPO - Wildlife Police Officer ZAWA - Zambian Wildlife Authority

5

Conservation Lower Zambezi Background In 1994, concerned local safari operators and other stakeholders recognised a need for organised support for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS, Zambia Wildlife Authority from 2000-2015) in the Lower Zambezi. Registered as a non-governmental organisation under the Zambian Societies Act in 1995, Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) began to assist the NPWS and the Chiawa community with their conservation and wildlife protection efforts. Since its humble beginnings providing essential support to the local wildlife protection authority, CLZ has grown and increased its activities and effort in the Lower Zambezi area. Not only has it increased its support to ZAWA but CLZ has also expanded to now include components of its Environmental Education Programme (2004), a Village Scout unit (2013), Community Development, Safari Guides Training and Examining, wildlife research and assisting injured, snared or orphaned wildlife.

CLZ has been in existence for over 20 years and is governed by a voluntary Board, which is democratically elected at an Annual General Meeting under the constitution and made up of members from the Lower Zambezi and independent supporters.

Wildlife Protection

Environmental Education

Community Support 6

Wildlife Protection Background CLZ assists the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) in their mandate to protect the wildlife of the Lower Zambezi primarily by providing technical and material support, training and capacity building to anti-poaching scout patrols and the support of a Village Scout unit (jointly employed by CLZ and the local Community Resource Boards). ZAWA is severely underfunded and under-equipped, so much so that many anti-poaching patrols may not take place if support was not provided by CLZ. Support consists of food rations, First Aid kits and field patrol equipment, transport for deployments, GPSs and technical support from CLZ Base Camp Control Centre in the form of de-briefings before and after deployments, 24/7 communications; and centralised GIS system for recording patrol tracks and documenting any illegal activity data recorded during patrols. Further support comes from CLZ’s regular aerial patrols which not only provide support to patrol teams, but are also key to detecting illegal activities on the ground.

CLZ’s support to ZAWA has gradually increased over the years and is linked to an increase in the number of patrols deployed in the park and surrounding GMAs every year (see figure below).

250

10000

200

8000 150 6000 100 4000 50

2000 0

Man-days Long Patrols 2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

7

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

0

No. of Long Patrols (10-day)

No. of mandays (ZAWA &VS)

12000

Wildlife Protection Foot Patrols In 2015, CLZ supported 235 10-day patrols in the park and in the surrounding Game Management Areas (GMAs), which totals 10,663 man-days including short (5-day) patrols. The majority of patrols focused on the valley floor and the lower foothills of the escarpment. Foot and aerial patrols have revealed that these are the areas where the majority of poaching activities occur. Man-power shortages remain one of the biggest challenges to ZAWA and CLZ to ensure sufficient ‘boots on the ground’ and good coverage of the park & GMA by patrol teams. CLZ’s Village Scout Unit is an important addition to man-power in the area. In 2015, the VS unit, with just 20 men and women, was responsible for 40% of total patrol effort in the Lower Zambezi National Park and surrounding GMAs.

Patrol Effort 796

922

928

891 Nov

749

Dec Jan Feb

Oct

MAN DAYS

Sep

901

Apr

Aug Jul

834

May Jun

993

866

235 long patrols 10,663 man-days

946

886

5.7

8.0

7.3

7.1 Nov

9.3

Oct

Dec Jan

Feb

VS LONG PATROL

Sep

9.0

951

Mar

7.0

Mar Apr

8.9

May

Aug Jul

Jun 8.7

9.6 7.5

9.7

11.8

11.7 12.1

13.2 Dec Jan Nov 8.8

10.8

ZAWA LONG PATROL

Oct Sep

Feb

Apr

9.9

May

Aug Jul

Jun 10.9

12.9 12.5

8

10.1

Mar

11.2

Wildlife Protection Elephant Poaching Following escalating trends in poaching across Africa, the Lower Zambezi experienced a spike in elephant poaching over the last two years. The year 2013 saw the lowest level of elephant poaching in the park on record, declining from over 50 per year between 2008 and 2010, to 24 in 2011, 11 in 2012 and 5 in 2013. A total of 43 elephants were poached in the park (and 45 in surrounding GMAs) in 2015 – a trend that is predicted to continue over the next few years. With highest demands from the Asian and US markets (in the case of ivory), wildlife crimes are trans-boundary and need to be addressed accordingly – at all levels of governance and justice – internationally, regionally and locally.

While addressing these problems on an international scale lies largely with government bodies and international organisations, local governing bodies and non-governmental organisations can assist by addressing not the causes but the symptoms on a more regional/local level. CLZ hopes to address some of both symptoms & causes by establishing specialised anti-poaching units in conjunction with information gathering and courtroom monitoring and support of prosecutors.

100# 80#

1.00#

Natural#GMA# Natural#Park# Poached#GMA# Poached#Park# PIKE#Park# PIKE#GMA#

0.80#

0.60#

PIKE*&

No.&of&elephants&poached&

120#

60#

0.40# 40# 0.20#

20# 0#

0.00# 2012################## 2013################## 2014##################### 2015################### Many#confirmed# Many#confirmed# Few#confirmed# None#confirmed# with#anthrax# with#anthrax# with#anthrax# with#anthrax#

The year 2015 saw the highest number of elephants poached in the Lower Zambezi on record and highlights the need for urgent action.

9

Wildlife Protection Law Enforcement

Annual Operations Meeting In April, CLZ hosted the Annual Operations Meeting with ZAWA and conservation stakeholders around the Lower Zambezi National Park. Fourteen delegates, including representatives from BioCarbon Partners and the ZAWA Area Wardens from the respective areas (Chongwe, Chirundu, Chinunuyu, Mukumba and Luangwa) attended the meeting. The meeting was held with the intention to evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the past year for the various areas involved and to focus on collective strategic planning for the upcoming year. The meeting facilitated lots of discussion and collaborative planning with agreeable outcomes. One of the major outcomes agreed upon was the need to increase man-power, which may be resolved through assistance from Chinyunyu and from the North of the park. The meeting is integral to ensuring successful and sustainable outcomes in the protection of the Lower Zambezi National Park, its wildlife and its resources.

Base Camp Operations Room and Kulefu Outpost Base In 2014, the Beit Trust generously donated £22,000 to CLZ to build housing for the Village Scout Unit.

Due to unforeseen circumstances relating to the property that was earmarked for the housing, building of these could not commence. After months of negotiations, CLZ requested to re-allocate this funding to expanding its operations infrastructure.

The Beit Trust kindly agreed to re-allocate the funds to an operations outpost in the east of the park (Kulefu) and a new Control Centre at CLZ’s Base Camp. Construction of the Kulefu outpost commenced in August 2015. The Kulefu Operations Outpost is part of a drive by CLZ and ZAWA to strengthen law enforcement efforts and increase managerial support of field effort in this central part of the park and eastern end of the valley floor. An area that prior to the Kulefu Base has been devoid of consistent management support due to its inaccessibility. Depending on the final layout of the Intensive Protection Zone (as part of a planned Restoration Programme), this outpost is also likely to become a key base for law enforcement operations following the reintroduction of wildlife.

CLZ would also like to thank Charles Davy for his financial and in-kind assistance to the Kulefu construction, the US Fish & Wildlife Services for solar equipment and pump for the Kulefu Outpost, and Riccardo Garbaccio and the Kanyemba carpenters for furniture and roof construction.

10

Wildlife Protection Special Operations The Lower Zambezi goes SMART

CLZ hosted two training workshops on SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool), in partnership with Panthera, to facilitate easy and efficient information recording by patrol teams.

SMART runs on ‘Trimbles’ which are handheld GPS-enabled computer devices with a camera that allows patrol teams to record any information in real-time. Upon completion of the patrol, all data (patrol tracks, photos, GPS coordinates for animals seen, signs of illegal activity etc.) are downloaded into the SMART database. From this, data can be easily extracted for reporting purposes and effective monitoring. The two workshops, held in May and November 2015, were aimed at both CLZ operations staff and ZAWA Wildlife Police Officers.

CLZ would like to thank Michelle Moeller from Panthera and Richard Bergyl from North Carolina Zoo for their dedication to this training.

Weapons Refurbishment In December, CLZ held a weapons refurbishment workshop that was kindly funded by the African Wildlife Foundation and supported by Sporting Guns who supplied toolkits and a trainer.

The workshop was attended by four ZAWA armourers (one each from Chirundu, Chilanga, Chongwe and Luangwa Boma) in order for them to be trained in weapons refurbishment and maintenance. Twenty AK47 assault rifles were refurbished, which were officially handed over from CLZ to ZAWA’s Operations Manager Matthews Mushimbalume at Chilanga Headquarters on 29 December. The weapons are a vital piece of equipment for scouts in the field for anti-poaching operations and self-protection, and it is critical that these weapons are in working order.

Cheetah and Wild Dog Strategy Workshop Zambia was represented by ZAWA, CLZ, the Zambian Carnivore Programme and Panthera at a Regional Cheetah and Wild Dog Strategy Workshop. The workshop looked at current and future plans to protect cheetah and wild dog across southern Africa. CLZ would like to thank the RangeWi d e C o n s e rva ti o n Pr o g r a m m e fo r Cheetah and Wild Dog and Save Animals Facing Extinction (SAFE) for organising the workshop.

11

Wildlife Protection Aerial Patrols Aerial patrols remain one of the most effective management tools for monitoring any illegal activity in the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) and surrounding Game Management Areas (GMAs), as well as providing support to patrol teams on the ground. CLZ and the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) are fortunate to have access to a plane that allows them to carry out aerial patrols in the Lower Zambezi Area Management Unit on a monthly basis. As in previous years, in 2015, the plane was essential for spotting illegal activity, especially for finding elephant carcasses. The plane was responsible for detecting 60% of all poached elephant carcasses found in the park & GMA in 2015, and 52% of all elephant carcasses.

Budgeted to fly 144 hours/year, the plane flew a total of 192 hours in the LZNP, surrounding GMAs and Kafue National Park (KNP). The plane flew a total of 10.2 hours in the Kafue National Park for various operations, earning CLZ US$4,080 to contribute to the running costs of the plane. Of this time, 4.4 hours were used to assist the Zambian Carnivore Programme in tracking cheetah, lion and wild dogs in their project area in KNP. A number of collared animals were re-located after not having been seen for a number of years. The plane also flew 2.5 hours of aerial patrolling for Game Rangers International (GRI) and ZAWA, with another 3.3 hours of ferry flights to KNP and back.

The plane (Cessna 172) is owned by Glenn Goodall, who has kindly leased the plane at a minimal nominal fee to CLZ since 2010, and is piloted by CLZ’s CEO Ian Stevenson. Following a three-year extension of the lease in 2012 which came to an end in August 2015, Glenn Goodall generously agreed to extend the lease of the aircraft for another three years (July 2018).

192 hours aerial patrolling | 72% of all poached elephant carcasses detected in the park

12

Environmental Education Background Established in 2004, CLZ’s Nzou Environmental Education Programme aims to create awareness about the importance and value of wildlife protection and sustainable natural resource use. The target audience is the younger generation of the communities that surround the Lower Zambezi National Park. Living merely a stone’s throw away from the park, the majority of these children have never experienced the splendour of the park - but are instead typically exposed only to the threat of wildlife in the form of crop-raiding elephants and the occasional goat-stealing lion. Furthermore, poaching and unsustainable natural resource exploitation is rife in many of the communities surrounding the park. CLZ hopes to build a generation of children with an interest and knowledge of their environment thereby improving attitudes towards environmental issues within the communities surrounding the park. Over the years, the EEP has grown substantially, and in 2015 we reached out to school children from 56 schools around the park - Chiawa, Chongwe, Chinyunyu, Rufunsa and Luangwa.

Environmental,Educa0on,Programme,

School,visit,

37day,visit,to,CLZ’s, EEP,Centre,on,the, border,of,the,Lower, Zambezi,Na0onal, Park,where,they, learn,about,the, geography,ecology, and,protec0on,of, LZNP,

Outreach,visits,

Educa0on,outreach, by,CLZ’s,educa0on, programme,team,to, schools,bordering, the,LZNP,to, encourage, conserva0on,clubs, and,HIV/AIDS, awareness,

Teacher,Training, Workshop,

Teachers,Training, workshop,on,CLZ’z, NZOU,Environmental, Educa0on,Curriculum, to,incorporate,this, into,school,curricula,

13

Conserva0on,Quiz,

Conserva0on,–,and, health7oriented, Interschool, Conserva0on,Club, Compe00on,,7, crea0ng,a,plaPorm, for,learners,to, exchange,stories,and, experiences,

Environmental Education Curriculum Development CLZ’s Nzou Environmental Education Curriculum has been adapted from the Environmental Education curriculum kindly provided by North Luangwa.

At the beginning of 2015, the CLZ Environmental Education Programme team revised the teachers’ curriculum and the lesson plan for the school visits. Lessons now include wildlife trafficking and animal behaviour.

These are two topics that are important for the Lower Zambezi specifically where communities co-exist with potentially dangerous wildlife - understanding behaviour is key to successful coexistence – while an understanding of the complex local and international web of wildlife trafficking is a powerful way to showcase the scale of the poaching problem.

Conserva)on* Lower*Zambezi*

Health*C*HIV/Aids*

Animal*Behaviour*

Knowledge) Importance) Threats) Solu6ons)

The*Web*of* Wildlife* Trafficking*

The*Lower* Zambezi*Na)onal* Park*Food*Web*

Sustainable* Resource*Use*C* Fishing*

CLZ hosted Shayne Lindsay who is studying for a masters degree in Outdoor Environmental and Sustainability Education at Edinburgh University. While at CLZ, she was doing her research on the environmental education programme by interviewing learners and teachers who are involved in the CLZ education program through a questionnaire.

14

Environmental Education EEP 2015 School Visits In 2015, CLZ hosted six school visits to its Environmental Education Centre, which saw 150 learners from 39 schools spend two to three days with CLZ’s Environmental Education Manager, Besa Kaoma. One of the highlights of the year was Proflight’s generous offer to fly the Luangwa school group from the Royal airstrip (10 minutes from CLZ Base Camp) back to Luangwa after the group had spent the weekend at the Education Centre.

Not only did this save the children a gruelling 12-hour drive from camp to Luangwa, but gave them a once-in-a-lifetime experience flying over the park and seeing its splendour from the air.

The year also saw the implementation of a Monitoring and Evaluation protocol for the education programme which will allow CLZ to evaluate the success of the programme over the years, and compare between different regions.

6 school visits 150 learners 39 schools

5 outreach visits 2,528 learners 56 schools

Outreach Every year, CLZ kicks off its education programme with outreach visits to each of the five project areas surrounding the park. This year, CLZ’s EEP team again conducted five outreach visits to the various schools and Tshongololo conservation clubs in the areas surrounding the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Teacher Training Workshop In August, CLZ hosted the annual teacher training workshop during the school holidays.

Twenty-three teachers from the Rufunsa project area spent three nights learning about the environment and wildlife of the Lower Zambezi ecosystem. The teachers participated in lessons from the revised Nzou Environmental Education curriculum and learnt how they can integrate these lessons into the conservation clubs at their respective schools.

15

Community Support Background In places like Zambia, where humans and wildlife coexist and compete for space and natural resources on a daily basis, providing support to the community forms a key component of wildlife protection. This is especially true for the areas surrounding the Lower Zambezi National Park. The Chiawa Game Management Area is home to a growing human population that relies almost entirely on subsistence crops. Yet the area is also home to elephant and hippo, both of which frequently pass through villages and fields where they either trample or ‘raid’ crops and granary stores – resulting in conflict and resentment from the local community. CLZ’s community support programme is multi-faceted – from human-wildlife conflict patrols (funded by the International Elephant Fund, the Tusk Trust and the African Wildlife Foundation), to a chilli-growing and chilli-fence programme to elephant-behaviour workshops.

Awely Partnership In an effort to address human-wildlife-conflict, CLZ is proud to have partnered with Awely, an organisation that helps and supports CLZ’s community projects both financially and with technical expertise. The aim of this organisation is to ensure a peaceful coexistence between wildlife and people in Asian and African countries with its ‘Red Cap’ programme focusing on finding solutions for human-wildlife conflicts. CLZ had the pleasure of hosting both Eva Gross and Nicolas Bout from Awely in May and December this year, respectively. Eva and Nicolas both spent four days at CLZ Base Camp and in the local communities working closely with Stephen Kalio, CLZ’s HWC co-ordinator and Awely Red-Cap. It was a great time for both to see how the various projects are progressing, including the chilli-production and felumbu construction at Mugarameno village. Eva also spent time with Stephen supporting him through database training and brainstorming ideas for action plans to move the projects forward and introduce new projects (such as alternative crops) for the upcoming season. The CLZ-Awely partnership focuses on chilli farming and chilli-fences, documenting humanwildlife-conflict incidents, building elephant-safe granary stores, and since the end of 2015, trialling alternative cash crops.

Photo

16

Community Support Human-Wildlife-Conflict Mitigation In 2015, human-wildlife-conflict that was recorded around the area that CLZ and Awely focus on (communities lying between Chinsambo village in the east and Chiuye village in the west), revolved mainly around crop-raiding incidents by elephants and hippos (43 raids in total). Livestock loss due to predators (1 incident) is fairly uncommon. The tragic loss of an elderly lady in the community in late October highlights that threat that elephants pose to community members while working in their fields, especially to the elderly.

HWC Patrols Funded by the International Elephant Foundation, CLZ set up its first Human-Wildlife-Conflict (HWC) patrols in January 2014. With the financial support from IEF, Tusk Trust and African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), CLZ again ran HWC patrols throughout the rainy season in 2015 (January – April) which is when human-elephant-conflict is typically at its peak due to ripening crops. This year, AWF funded the purchase of four ‘buffalo bikes’ that are provided to HWC patrol teams to allow them to respond more rapidly to conflict incidents than is possible on foot.

Elephant Behaviour Workshop With funding from the International Elephant Foundation (IEF), CLZ hosted Elephant-Behaviour Workshops in November & December of 2015.

These workshops prepare the Village Scouts to be better equipped to read behaviour correctly and act accordingly when coming face-to-face with elephants. The training was conducted by CLZ’s Environmental Educator Besa Kaoma, Chiawa Camp’s highly experienced and competent guide Daniel Sisuku, ZAWA WPO Kennedy Phiri and the ZAWA Ranger of Operations Shadreck Silumesi. The workshop combined the theory behind elephant behaviour and field-based practical scenarios giving opportunities to scouts to react and consider best practices. These training programs enable scouts to step back and re-evaluate their teams, skills and knowledge in a safe environment, boosts morale, address weaknesses and strengthens existing skills and knowledge. These programs are of great value to scouts who are constantly in the field putting themselves in dangerous situations for the sake of conservation. We therefore thank IEF for this fantastic learning opportunity. We also thank ZAWA for their support of this program and their role in making it happen.

17

Community Support Human-Wildlife-Conflict Mitigation Chili Farming This year, three farmers were able to harvest enough high quality chilli to sell to Rivonia (Zambian condiment manufacturers). The farmers produced a total of 65.3kg of chilis, earning them a total of ZMW 653. In October, CLZ and Awely hosted another successful chilli farming workshop. The skills from the successful farmers were highlighted to the new farming groups. At the workshop, Besa Kaoma and Awely Red Cap Stephen Kalio covered topics such as the chilli seedling nurseries and the planting process, elephant behaviour, how to make chilli fences and also how to build elephant proof granary stores (felumbus. The participants were able to put their skills to the test and help build a felumbu in Mugurameno village.

65.3kg chilies harvested

Felumbus

In 2015 CLZ’s community programme continued to support the construction of elephant safe granary stores (felumbus). There are now a total of 24 felumbus in the Chiawa Game Management Area.

CLZ secured independent funding for felumbus through a ‘sponsor-a-felumbu’ scheme that was kindly run by Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro Bush Camp, offering their guests the opportunity to sponsor their own felumbu (each felumbu is numbered and allocated to a donor), as well as through an appeal in CLZ’s newsletter. Awely is now also funding an assistant to CLZ’s HumanWildlife-Conflict Coordinator Stephen Kalio to help him with the construction of the granary stores. The felumbus are very popular in the Chiawa GMA and provide safe storage of maize for community members.

In November, CLZ began to develop an alternative crops plot with the financial and technical support from Awely. CLZ identified a farmer, Maines Soko, to take charge of seeding and growing alternative crops alongside maize. The aim of the project is to trial cash crops that are not appealing to elephants. Alternatives include lemongrass, turmeric, sunflower and sesame. In order to be able to observe which crops elephants consume when not disturbed the alternative crops were intentionally grown in a farming area where elephants frequently pass and where there is no field guarding. CLZ hopes to continue the development of the plot to establish if there is a possibility to start planting cash crops that won’t be attractive to the many elephants in the area.

Alternative Crops

18

Community Support Anti-snare Campaign In October 2015, CLZ and Awely hosted their first anti-snare campaign. CLZ’s Environmental Educator, Besa Kaoma, Operations Manager Rabson Tembo and Awely Red Cap Stephen Kalio spent three days in three villages of the Chiawa GMA. The campaign focused on the issue of snaring and how if you 'remove a snare you can save a life'. The campaign was filled with drama activities and discussions about the effects snaring has on wildlife and in-turn tourism and the economy of the Lower Zambezi.

Besa Kaoma enjoyed the sharing of knowledge, stating that ‘the campaign was very productive, the people in the villages came out in numbers and we learnt from them as they learnt from us. We shared knowledge on how we can protect our animals because most of the people on the valley depend on the natural resources that drive the local economy’.

KURARAMA KWEDU,NDE KURARAMAO KWE LOWER ZAMBEZI OUR SURVIVAL IS THE FUTURE OF LOWER ZAMBEZI 19

Community Support Rubatano!

‘Rubatano’ (Unity in the local language Goba) is CLZ’s annual community sports day that brings together local netball and football teams to battle it out on the pitch for the grand prize of being the strongest, fastest and fittest team in the area. On 26 July, CLZ hosted the second Rubatano Day at Kabwadu School in the Chiawa Game Management Area. The event is aimed to promote relationships between the local community members, ZAWA, conservation, lodges and other stakeholders outside of the law enforcement realm with which CLZ is often associated. This year, 15 football teams, 10 netball teams and hundreds of spectators attended the much anticipated event. It was a tough battle, both for footballers and netballers alike – and a successful, fun-filled day for young and old.

20

We would like to thank all our sponsors who made this event possible: Apam Baines River Camp Chongwe Safaris Chakanaka Farms Chiawa Camp Farm Pride Hi-Fi Corp Kanyemba Lodge Kiambi Safaris Mwambashi River Lodge Proflight Zambia Royal Zambezi Lodge Sausage Tree Camp Tunepics Wild Tracks Zambeef

Base Camp Accommodation ZAWA$/$CRB$

CLZ again hosted a number of donors, members, school children, volunteers, guides and other overnight visitors this year. With a total of 1,342 bed nights spread across the year this earned substantial revenue for Base Camp operations.

The majority of bed nights originated from overnighting guides during Safari Guide Training in March, a WWF workshop in November which comprised 25 delegates for four nights as well as school groups.

Members$/$ Donors$ Researchers$

Pilots$

Volunteers$ Family$and$ Friends$

Other$

School$Visit$

1342 bed nights

In July 2015, light was shed on CLZ’s Environmental Education Centre after the generous solar installation at CLZ base camp undertaken by Empowered by Light. The team from Standard Microgrid spent 10 days at CLZ Base Camp installing the new solar system, that now enables Besa Kaoma to show educational videos without the use of the generator during school visits. This system not only helps operate the EEP centre but it equally powers the entire Base Camp from the kitchen refrigeration to laundry and water pumps, which in turn decreases our carbon footprint. Other than for occasional welding work CLZ Base Camp now runs 100% on solar thus saving approximately US $10,000 per year in fuel and generator maintenance. CLZ is excited for its new relationship and partnership with Empowered by Light where we hope to empower local schools and the surrounding communities through solar power and light.

21

Base Camp Staff Training Peter Tembo, Operations Assistant In May, Operations Assistant Peter Tembo, who started in CLZ's housekeeping team in 2011, attended a 3-week training course in Advanced Combat Training along with representatives from ZAWA Lower Zambezi and Kafue. The course was held at the Save Valley Conservancy, and was conducted by Anti-Poaching Tracking Specialists (ATS) with trainees from across southern Africa.

CLZ was pleased to be able to further invest in Peter’s professional development through this tough and demanding course, which will help him in his role to work with scouts in the field and develop the ability of the patrol teams. We would like to thank AMSCO for providing funds for the training.

Rabson Tembo, Operations Manager

Besa Kaoma, EEP Manager CLZ’s Environmental Education Manager Besa Kaoma successfully completed an online course on Conservation and Environmental Management with the Australian College School (ACS). CLZ feels that it is of integral importance to invest in the professional development of staff, allowing programs to be heightened and further enriched through greater skills and understanding. Besa Kaoma therefore continues to learn and develop within his field and position at CLZ. Besa also completed the Advanced First Aid training course conducted by Specialist Emergency Services (SES).

22

CLZ’s Operations Manager Rabson Tembo underwent training for a Private Pilot’s License in South Africa in order to be able to conduct aerial patrols alongside CLZ’s CEO Ian Stevenson. Due to funding constraints, Rabson was under huge pressure to complete the PPL within two months. He performed well in his first flight- and written tests, and remained positive. With frequent written exams the training was incredibly intense and the weather made it difficult to obtain sufficient number of hours to make progress, and he was grounded much of the time. Rabson put himself under huge amounts of pressure and due to poor health, CLZ made the decision to bring Rabson home early and discontinue the training. Nevertheless, Rabson excels in his position as Operations Manager and is an invaluable team member. We would like to thank the Tusk Trust and AMSCO for funding this opportunity to Rabson.

Base Camp Staff Developments Base Camp Staff This year, CLZ underwent substantial growth in Base Camp staff composition. As the organisation continues to grow over the next few years - with plans for a restocking programme and several new law enforcement units, all of which will be accompanied by various new donors reporting needs and increased administrative tasks - there was a need to expand its management staff. General Manager, Eleanor Harvie, left the organisation in June, and was replaced by Vera Hoffmann in July. CLZ also employed Francesca Cooke as Assistant General Manager and Fynn Corry as Maintenance and Logistics Manager – both new positions in the organisation. At the beginning of 2015, CLZ employed two female staff – an assistant to the kitchen chef and a staff cook – in an effort to employ and empower local women.

Village Scout Unit CLZ’s Village Scout, established in 2013, continues to run in its third year of operation. The unit is responsible for on average 8.1 10-day patrols and 358 mandays per month in the Lower Zambezi NP and surrounding GMAs, accounting for 40% of the total patrol effort in 2015. With ZAWA’s manpower shortage, the VS unit is a crucial addition to increasing ‘boots on the ground’. Nevertheless, progress within the VS unit has not been without its problems.

This year, the VS unit decreased to 15 village scouts from an initial 20. Two scouts’ contracts were not extended in 2015 due to information leakage. One more scout was dismissed for disciplinary issues and two was absorbed by ZAWA. The middle level leadership quality of patrol teams has also been lacking which has lead CLZ to put together a new ranking structure to appoint senior village scouts based on their performance, with approval from ZAWA. CLZ is hoping this will improve leadership skills of patrol team leaders as it is a vital component to effective wildlife protection and law enforcement. CLZ will also be employing four more scouts to bring the manpower back to its original level at the beginning of 2016.

Other Training CLZ has been able to support the training of other staff members throughout the year.

During the two SMART workshops, Rabson Tembo, Shaina Irwin, Peter Tembo and Justin Gumbula were trained in using SMART software and the Trimbles. CLZ’s driver, Timo Kanyanya, was supported financially to obtain his truck driving license.

Rabson Tembo and Shaina Irwin attended a course on Environment and Natural Resource Management that was held in Lusaka in July.

23

Base Camp Lower Zambezi Safari Guide Training CLZ once again hosted the Lower Zambezi Safari Guide Training and Exams in March 2015 in partnership with ZAWA, Bedrock Africa and the Lower Zambezi Safari Guide Committee. The standard and reputation of the training and the exams continues to rise and gain momentum within the safari guide industry in Zambia. In 2015, a total of 128 exams where written, of which 78% were passed.

General 92%

General 70%

Boating & Fishing 91%

Boating & Fishing 88%

THEORY

PRACTICAL Walking 100%

Canoeing 75% Canoeing 80%

Walking 43%

45 new guides licensed in 2015

24

Environmental Sustainability Carbon Neutrality Tourism operators in the Lower Zambezi have teamed up with BioCarbon Partners in an inspirational effort to make the Lower Zambezi National Park carbon-neutral for both law enforcement and tourism operations. This is a first for Africa and a first for the world! Carbon neutrality means ‘having a zero carbon footprint’, i.e. zero carbon emissions – something that is near impossible to achieve in today’s world. Following internationally-recognised auditing procedures, each operator is able to assess which activities are high in carbon-emissions with the ultimate goal of reducing these, if not eliminating all together (e.g. replacing emissions-heavy generators with solar systems or using ‘ecocharcoal’ that is sustainably and locally produced). Emissions can then be further reduced or ‘offset’ by purchasing Verified Carbon Units (VCU’s), which in the Lower Zambezi can be purchased from the Lower Zambezi REDD+ project. Every tourism concessionaire based in the park (Chiawa Camp, Old Mondoro Bush Camp, Anabezi Camp, Mwambashi River Lodge, Sausage Tree and Potato Bush Camp) and several operators from the neighbouring Chiawa GMA (Chongwe River Camp and River House, Kasaka Lodge, Baines River Camp, Kanyemba Lodge and Royal Zambezi Lodge) have contributed to making the park’s operations carbon-neutral.

Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project

25

Memberships

Chongwe River House Kasha River Lodge

Silver | US$3,600

Platinum | US$12,000

Gold | US$7,200

CLZ relies entirely on donations from individuals and institutions, 100% of which are used directly for conservation activities. Core support comes from the safari operators in the Lower Zambezi who, as members of CLZ, contribute approximately US$125,000 to the organisation’s operational costs every year. These membership fees are vital for the running of CLZ’s operations and CLZ would like to thank each member for the ongoing support!

Corporate | US$1,000

The River Grande

Chongwe River Camp

Zambian Ground Handlers

Annual Budget Financial Report CLZ’s accounts are managed by a professional accountant on a voluntary basis. The accounts are audited externally on an annual basis by a professional auditing company. In 2015, CLZ raised approximately US$300,000 through grants from US Fish and Wildlife Services, African Wildlife Foundation, Tusk Trust, Beit Trust and the Elephant Crisis Fund. Most of this funding is earmarked specifically for projects such as a digital repeater system for the Lower Zambezi, a canine detection unit, wildlife protection patrols and the construction of an operations outpost base in the east of the park (Kulefu).

Operator Additional Donations 6,800

Merchandise 1,889 Camp Facilities 47,563 Training & Exams 19,428

Fundraisers 80,022

Income 2015 US$

Grants 300,609

27

Donations 162,724

Membership Fees 104,115

Annual Budget Budget 2016 CLZ’s annual budget has steadily increased over the past couple of years, reaching almost US $1,000,000 for 2016 (see graph). The organisation relies entirely on funds raised through membership fees, private donations and on grants from donors such as the US Fish & Wildlife Services, African Wildlife Foundation, the Tusk Trust, Beit Trust, and the International Elephant Foundation.

Community, 34,663 !800,000!!

Income!

!700,000!!

Expenditure!

Amount'(US'$)'

!600,000!!

Base Camp, 229,320

WP VS, 123,869

!500,000!!

US$

!400,000!! !300,000!!

WP ZAWA, 384,850

!200,000!! !100,000!! !"!!!!

2011!

2012!

2013!

2014!

2015!

28

EEP, 198,542

Fundraising Events In 2015, CLZ raised over US$10,000 through fundraising events - these events were aimed at both raising funds for the organisation’s activities and at raising awareness for CLZ and wildlife protection in Zambia.

The Elephant Charge The Elephant Charge is an annual event held in the Zambian ‘outback’ that sees teams of eager motorists come together and face the challenge of a gruelling 4x4 track. Teams have to find their way across ridges, valleys, streams and through dense vegetation - the winning team is the one that completes the track across 10 checkpoints in the shortest possible distance. Each team pledges a minimum of US$800 as an ‘entry fee’ which is then distributed to 10 beneficiary organisations across Zambia. CLZ’s very own team - the Mudhogs - again competed in their trusted vehicle, the ‘Animal’, and managed to cross the finish line in 5th place! In order to raise funds for the Mudhogs, CLZ held two events in Lusaka in September - the annual ‘Zambezi Teaser’ at the Deli Cafe as well as the Elephant Kick Off Party - a Khaki Fever Ceilidh which raised approximately US$ 3,800 and was held at Bongwe’s Barn & Guest House. The Elephant Charge event raised approximately US$61,000 of which US$6,000 was given to CLZ as one of the 10 beneficiaries. The money raised through the Elephant Charge has been directed to CLZ Environmental Education Programme.

Online ‘silent’ Auction

Southern Sun-Nederberg Wine

In 2015 CLZ held its first online auction which was supported by various lodges and stakeholders in the area. Over a one month period, participants could bid online for various prizes - generously donated by lodges and restaurants. The auction was a great success and raised approximately US$6,600.

In November 2015, the Southern Sun Hotel (Ridgeway, Lusaka) again selected CLZ as the charity to be supported through their Nederberg wine tasting and auction evening. The evening was a great success and raised US$4,000 for CLZ. We would like to thank the Southern Sun for their continued support to CLZ.

We would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for these fundraising events - without your generous financial, logistical and in-kind support, these events would not have been possible!

29

Governance Board Members As a society, Conservation Lower Zambezi is governed by a board of annually elected members. On 22 April 2015, the following board members were elected to represent the CLZ Board: Chairman: Riccardo Garbaccio, Kanyemba Lodge, Lower Zambezi Vice-chairman: Anita Balletto, A to Z Solutions, Lusaka Treasurer: Alan Harkness, Lusaka Secretary: Sarah Davies, Game Rangers International, Lusaka Chief Executive Officer: Ian Stevenson Sipho Phiri, Entrepreneur, Lusaka Grant Cumings, Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro, Lower Zambezi Shaun Davy/Charles Davy, Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp, Lower Zambezi Timothy Featherby, Baines River Camp, Lower Zambezi Jason Mott, Sausage Tree Camp, Lower Zambezi Hassan Sachedina, Biocarbon Partners, Mfuwe Juri van Zyl, Buya Bamba Ltd, Lusaka Keira Irwin, Proflight, Lusaka

Management Team CEO: Ian Stevenson General Manager: Eleanor Harvie/Vera Hoffmann (July 2015) Assistant General Manager: Cesca Cooke (July 2015) Operations Manager: Rabson Tembo Environmental Education Manager: Besa Kaoma Base Camp Manager: Shaina Irwin Maintenance & Logistics Manager: Fynn Corry (July 2015)

MAJOR DONORS (listed alphabetically) African Management Services Company African Wildlife Foundation Autoworld Awely Beit Trust Buya Bamba Captain Planet Foundation CC Systems CLZ Members (see pg. 24) Charles Davy Cynthia Tuthill Elephant Charge Elephant Crisis Fund Empowered By Light Expert Africa Farmpride/Fringilla's Chakanaka Farms Glenn Goodall Gwabi River Lodge 30

International Elephant Foundation Leon Judah Blackmore Foundation Pack for Purpose Panthera Pro-car Zambia Proflight Kanyemba Lodge Riverbanks Zoo Rufford Foundation SATIB Sidecole Southern Sun Ridgeway Tony & Sally Squibbs Total Fuel Tusk Trust US Fish & Wildlife Services Wildtracks

In memory Timothy Mushibwe, †25 January 2015 CLZ was deeply saddened by the passing of Timothy Mushibwe, Vice-Chairman of CLZ's Board for many years and long time supporter of our work and Zambian conservation as a whole. Mr Mushibwe sat on CLZ's board for over ten years, during which he acted as the original Treasurer, and subsequently as Chairman and Vice-Chairman for many years. He was a keen fisherman and a lover of the bush. Timothy did incredible things for CLZ and dedicated his time, energy and passion into his work with the Zambian Wildlife Authority and Wildlife for the conservation of wildlife of the Lower Zambezi and the whole of Zambia. His passing was a tragic loss for the Zambian tourism and wildlife sector, and CLZ would like to pass on their condolences to all those who knew him.

Moses Tembo †15 October 2015 It is with great sadness that CLZ had to report on the untimely death of SWPO Moses Tembo. Mr Tembo was tragically killed by an elephant whilst on duty in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Moses dedicated his life to wildlife protection and was an invaluable member of ZAWA. Hundreds of people were present at Mr Tembo’s funeral in Rufunsa, and the attendance of people from all over the Lower Zambezi bore testament to his character and presence within these communities. CLZ would like to pass on their condolences to all Mr Tembo’s family and friends and also the rest of the wider community. Moses will be sorely missed.