The Issue:

People living along Hwange National Park’s southern boundary are predominantly subsistence farmers living in a geographically and socially isolated area of poor soil fertility, erratic rainfall and intense human-wildlife conflicts. In hard times, desperate people have turned to bushmeat poaching in the Park to feed their families. It is important that we work hard to reduce this. With very limited natural surface water, Hwange National Park relies on NGOs to pump groundwater to the surface for animals to drink. Imvelo and the Trust have over 25 pumps both inside and around the Park that sustain thousands of animals. Most of these pumps have solar hybrid units. These units need constant maintenance and require services and repairs. In certain areas, this set-up requires specific “pump attendants”, who need to be both paid and fed, to be stationed at remote locations to manage the pumps. 

 Grant Award Use:

Funding from ATCF will be crucial in supporting key conservation and community initiatives in southern Hwange. The grant will help cover the salaries and food packs for pump attendants at remote watering holes, ensure repairs for solar hybrid units that pump water for wildlife, and provide a solar pump and irrigation system for a communal food garden. These efforts will empower local communities to become self-sufficient despite drought conditions, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and sustain the area's iconic wildlife, including large herds of elephants, enhancing both conservation and cultural harmony in the region.

 What Would a Successful Project Result In?

The Project will limit the number of animals and particularly elephant deaths, the number of elephant raids in the communal lands, and provide extra water and food security for local people.