When human activity in biodiverse
forests is uncontrolled, the survival of plants, animals and other
micro-organisms is at risk.
In a bid to secure Zambia's
Chisamba Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA), a safe haven for
endangered vultures, BirdWatch Zambia (BirdLife Partner) has educated farm
owners, managers and workers who operate within the IBA on why it is important
to protect natural habitats from man-made threats.
The Chisamba IBA in Zambia covers
an area of 55,000 hectares and more than 72% of it falls within private farms.
Activities like cattle ranching, game farming, dairy farming and crocodile
farming attract hundreds of vultures to the farms, where the birds benefit from
large trees that offer suitable perching, roosting and breeding sites. The
large privately owned commercial farms also offer a safe haven for vultures
that are attracted by the waste from meat processing, and the harvesting of
crocodiles.
Much of the Chisamba IBA land falls
within local and national forests and serves as home to Zambia's only true
endemic bird species, the Zambian Barbet Lybius chaplini. However, encroachment
by human settlement, fuelwood and charcoal production are threats to
conservation efforts in the area.
BirdWatch Zambia is working to
secure 4,000 hectares of the Chisamba IBA for the benefit of vultures and
natural ecosystems in general. They have engaged in dialogue with private farm
owners in Chisamba to create a Vulture Safe Zone (VSZ) in the properties within
the IBA. The initiative recognizes the movement of vultures from one farm to
another depending on the feeding opportunity.
An education and awareness
campaign around the area has also targeted school children and their parents
who either own, manage or work in farms in the area. The campaign and dialogue
seek to change local perceptions about vultures and also influence farm
management practices.
“They [vultures] are ugly birds
that spoil good meat,” said Chanda, a Chisamba secondary school child residing
in a cattle ranch within the zone before attending the campaign.
After learning about the
environmental importance of vultures through the project, Chanda now describes
vultures as “lifesaving birds”.
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