SHAPING FUTURES
Peace Parks embarked on its transformative endeavour in Simalaha, Zambia 14 years ago. Nestled in the Sesheke and Sekhute Chiefdoms, the Simalaha Community Conservancy stands as a pioneering initiative in Zambia, covering an extensive area of 1,800 km2. Within this vast expanse, a 500 km2 sanctuary was designed specifically for the development of wildlife related economic activities. In 2012, the establishment of the Simalaha Community Conservancy Trust solidified its governance, managing the revenues generated from communal activities such as tourism, sales of carbon credits, and raising of buffalo.
Peace Parks diligently developed a livelihoods model that would transition the Simalaha community from a vulnerable existence centred on subsistence agriculture to a more robust model based on revenue stacking and the incorporation of indigenous and local knowledge. The impact of unwavering dedication and strategic investments in Simalaha, Zambia are tangible.
LIVELIHOODS SECURED
At the heart of this transformation lies the Simalaha Livelihoods Model, which focuses on diversifying income streams from a single reliance on subsistence agriculture to eventually 10 revenue generating streams. This strategic shift enhances the economic stability of the Simalaha community, promotes good governance, instills pride, preserves cultural heritage and leaves communities significantly less vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The main aim of conservation agriculture is to provide people with food security and balanced nutrition, while assisting in the restoration of soil fertility. Commercial community agriculture introduces the concept of agri-hubs. Agri-hubs group farmers, provide them with good inputs and training, and connect them to local markets. Importantly, storing facilities are provided which allow farmers to bring products to market outside the growing season, which considerably increases revenues. It has lengthened the growing season, and now farmers are producing all year round.
RESOURCES PROTECTED
Fisheries Committees on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River implement and enforce no-fish zones and no-fish seasons, breeding zones, and removed and confiscated monofilament nets, increasing fish populations dramatically. Often mosquito nets are used to fish, catching everything from the smallest fish to larvae and even eggs. Fishermen have been registered to be part of the Village Fishing Management Committees. Peace Parks facilitated the import of legal nets currently unavailable in Zambia, and the construction of crocodile-proof fences in 19 locations so that community members will be able to access the river without fear.
Our impact monitoring system monitors the results of our revenue stacking approach and will eventually identify the most successful approaches towards increased resilience and robustness of the model.
