The Tashinga Initiative is an emergency wildlife and environment conservation program covering an area of 17,000 miles² (27,000 km²) along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, Africa. This spectacular area is one of the last truly wild ecosystems left in the world, and also plays host to two Natural World Heritage Sites as well as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority have given both their encouragement and support in working with The Tashinga Initiative, towards protecting and securing this natural heritage for generations to come. They have sealed their approval of The Tashinga Initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Problem:

• Economic turmoil and hyperinflation through to 2008 left Zimbabwe’s national parks and wildlife areas severely under resourced.
• Whilst the economic situation has begun to recover somewhat, past damage and an ongoing lack of resources has greatly hampered Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority ability to be effective.
• The situation has put wildlife as a whole under severe risk from indiscriminate poachers and that risk is accelerating due to a continued lack of resources.
• Civilians in rural areas continue to fight for their survival, and as such they snare small animals for food, poach rhino and elephant to sell their horns and tusks on the black market obtaining high prices for the pieces they deliver to exporters.
• Poaching camps, currently estimated at 1000 in Zimbabwe, show an increase of 900% since 2001.
• In Zimbabwe less than 450 Black Rhino remain from a population of 2000 in 1985.
• 1 in 7 elephants is found dead, usually poached.
• An estimated 1 million acres of natural habitat is deforested annually.
• The ability of Parks and Wildlife Management Authority to fight against this destruction is immensely under resourced.
• The rapidity of destruction of wildlife and their habitats is at such a rate that, should it be left to its own devices, there will soon be little left for both current and future generations to enjoy.

The Solution:

Together with The Venture Philanthropy Company, a five year detailed implementation plan and budget has been created, using a phased and prioritised implementation process. Outlined below are some of The Tashinga Initiative Project Components:

1. PWMA Wildlife Protection Units: In full collaboration with the governmental management authority The Tashinga Initiative will build up to 22 Wildlife Protection Units comprising 21 men in each unit, a total of approximately 460 staff.
2. Provision and installation of fresh water and solar powered energy
3. Support to rural schools, clinics and employees families, totalling 900 people
4. Provision of tracking vehicles, boats, GPS, radio and other equipment to ensure accurate tracking of animals and identification of poachers
5. Refurbishment of National Parks Camps, Bases and Head Quarters
6. Refurbishment of Roads and Bridges, which were previously inaccessible
7. Local employment within the tourism sector
8. Craft making and skill training
9. Monitoring and Evaluation of project impact and achievements
10. Documentaries, DVD’s and Filming of real life success stories

What the Tashinga Initiative has achieved already:

• Supply of a 22 foot pelican boat with 40hp motor, complete unit.
• Media / Documentary coverage including a 3 min DND titled “Challenge in Zimbabwe”and a 10 minute DVD “Mission Possible”and documentaries planned for NatGeo Wild, Animal Planet and National Geographic.
• 3 years supply of educational and sports equipment, materials, uniforms and text books to the Matusadona School in the Matusadona National Park.
• 11 solar water, energy and communication facilities to various National Parks HQ within the project area.
• Refurbishment of plumbing, reticulation, diesel water pumps, Ranger HQ infrastructure, game fence repairs and replacement around solar water installations.
• Updating of the Ranger field library, metal tree labels, maps, uniforms, binoculars and GPS sets.
• Supply of laptop computers, portable as well as home-base radio equipment, antennae and battery packs.
• Multiple training sessions for field rangers and anti-poaching units.
• HIV/AIDS training courses at ranger stations, communities, and schools.
• Significant supplies of fuel for boats, ranger vehicles and HQ equipment

“Something would have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed” – Wallace Stegner

“Only within the moment of time represented by the present century has one species – man – acquired significant power to alter the nature of his world” – Rachel Carson

Find out More: Download full project Summary (pdf 886kb)
Or check out the website: www.thetashingainitiative.org