Effective Management of the National Protected Areas System

The project will provide core strategic support to strengthen the system of national protected areas in Zambia. Interventions have been strategically designed, taking into account the afore-mentioned country context and strategies and identified barriers, to accelerate and fortify efforts in support of this objective. GEF funding through this project would support capacity building activities focused at the systemic and institutional levels, PA system reclassification, and demonstration of new management partnership models at two field demonstration sites. The field sites are the Bangweulu complex on the southern margins of the Bangweulu Wetlands (incorporating parts of Kasanka NP, Lavushi Manda NP, Bangweulu GMA, Chikuni GMA and Kafinda GMA), and the Chiawa/Lower Zambezi complex in southeastern Zambia (incorporating parts of Lower Zambezi NP and Chiawa GMA) . Co-financing, provided by the GRZ, NORAD, DANIDA and other donors will strengthen management of a core set of high profile National Parks, that will serve as the main engine of tourism growth, and long-term anchor for the PA System.