Zambia Commends African Parks as Conservation Investment Surpasses $34 Million
Zambia's Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, has commended African Parks for its conservation and tourism development work in the country, noting that the organisation's investment has strengthened the sector while freeing government resources for social services. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Lusaka, Minister Sikumba highlighted that African Parks had committed to investing $20 million over 20 years, but has already surpassed that figure - deploying over $34 million within just five years. The minister also reaffirmed government's commitment to addressing infrastructure gaps in road and air transport to unlock the full potential of Zambia's northern and southern tourism circuits.
African Parks Chief Operating Officer Charles Wells acknowledged Zambia's leadership in setting aside significant land for conservation across national parks, game management areas, forest reserves, and protected wetlands, and confirmed the organisation's commitment to scaling proven conservation approaches that deliver ecological, social, and economic value. At community level, Barotse Royal Establishment Representative Induna Mundandwe noted that African Parks' presence in the Liuwa area has directly supported community involvement in tourism, including the establishment of campsites at Liuwa Park and the promotion of traditional fishing practices as a tourism draw. The engagement underscores the growing role of public-private-community partnerships in driving sustainable tourism development across Zambia.
Source: Lusaka Times
