Kasungu Wildlife Conservation for Community Development is set to implement a new Climate Resilient Project in nine traditional authorities around Kasungu National Park.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Kasungu, the orgainistation’s board chairperson Malidadi Langa said they secured K1.1 billion funding from International Union for the Conservation of Nature through International Fund for Animal Welfare for the project which seeks to address factors that make people to rely much on the park for their livelihoods.

A cross-section of the participants

He said: “We conducted a research to find out why communities keep on putting pressure on the park despite several interventions from other partners. We, therefore, found out that there is poverty among most community members as a result of climate change which has affected their crop production.

“The project, among others, will promote climate smart agriculture and forestry cover to boost their livelihoods to reduce pressure on the park.”

Kasungu National Park manager Ndaona Kumanga commended the project, saying it will strengthen their relationship with the communities.

“There is always need for concerted efforts between technical officers and communities to protect and conserve the park,” he said.

International Fund for Animal Welfare community engagement officer Phillip Namagonya said they are pleased to continue offering support to empower communities to appreciate the need to preserve wildlife and natural resource.

Part of the funding will also be used to uplift people’s livelihoods from the Zambian side.

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