Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia

Community Involvement

It was originally declared a royal hunting ground and game reserve by the Litunga (the king) Lubosi Lewanika in the 19th century. The people that currently live in and around Liuwa are descendants of the rich Lozi culture and were originally placed in the park by the Litunga to act as custodians of the park as the official royal hunting grounds.

The number of people and villages surrounding the park has grown considerably over the last century, but the strong system of traditional practices and rules and regulations persists, with the 20,000 local people in 432 villages still retaining utilisation rights in the park. It is therefore not unusual to see local people walking their cattle or fishing traditionally in the park. Many wild plants are also utilised and baskets and mats are woven from grass harvested in the park.

The Lozi traditional system is run by the Barotse Royal Establishment, headed by the Litunga and the Ngambela (Prime Minister) who are both based in Mongu. Locally, Chieftainess Mboanjikana oversees several Silalo Indunas (Area Chiefs) which in turn oversee village headman. The Lozi are largely subsistence farmers growing maize, rice and cassava and keeping some cattle. Fish forms an integral part of local diets.

Stimulating sustainable businesses for local communities is one of the goals of Liuwa. To this end African Parks has assisted four communities to establish their own campsites within the park. These facilities are community managed, with all proceeds accruing to the communities. These ventures are self-sufficient and will prosper with increased visitation to the park as it continues to recover.

Since 2003 African Parks has made monthly payments to a Community Development Fund established in Liuwa. The amount is directly linked to the degree of poaching and illegal activity occurring in the park, with larger sums being awarded in acknowledgement of the communities' anti-poaching efforts. Proceeds from the fund are used for projects chosen by the communities themselves. Past purchases have included canoes for transport, building materials for school buildings, teachers' houses and rural health clinics, and equipment for clearing canals. Communities are also investing in their own tourism business which is a sign of confidence in the project.

African Parks also supports the Barotse Royal Estabishment's cultural and advisory funds which are used for a variety of activities including maintenance of the Barotse Palace, building rehabilitation, wages for Palace staff and funding traditional rituals and ceremonies.

Liuwa's Environmental Education Programme (LEEP) has gone from strength to strength. There are now 21 conservation clubs in schools in and around the park and these receive regular visits from our education officer each year. The objective is to increase environmental awareness and to highlight opportunities to improve livelihoods through tourism and conservation.

Major community projects completed at Liuwa include the following:

· In 2007 the building of a second classroom block at Lukoko, a Basic School located in the buffer zone to the west of Liuwa Plain, was completed with the support of the Koornzaayer Foundation.

· In 2008 a computer laboratory was installed at Kalabo High School, also with the support of De Koornzaayer Foundation. This project has made a huge impact on the pupils at the school, equipping them with skills vital in the modern world.

· In 2009, De Koonzaayer Foundation purchased 400 solar cooking units for the communities of Liuwa to reduce villagers' need for wood.

· During 2010/11 two classroom blocks, ablution units and teachers' accommodation were constructed at Lumei Basic School with funding from De Koornzaayer Foundation.

· African Parks procured and installed communication systems at community campsites and two other areas, Mutaa and Lukoko, providing the only form of proper communication in the region.

· Eight water wells have been established around the park, providing a reliable source of clean drinking water for local communities.