IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Pwma, | |
| Conservation strategy and action plan for the lion in Zimbabwe | |
| 2006 Full Book | |
Zimbabwe is one of the few lion range states in Africa, where large areas of land which have been set aside as protected areas, still have viable lion populations. In some parts of Africa, lions have been completely wiped out through uncontrolled hunting, revenge killings, habitat loss and other factors with the only record to indicate their existence in the past now left as anecdotal evidence. The lion is a powerful African symbol, it is a flagship species and yet its future is under threat. The conflict with local communities and the threat to livestock and human lives in many parts of the world including Zimbabwe is well documented. While its attraction in ecotourism as one of the most beautiful and graceful cats, and as a trophy animal in sport hunting, its economic benefits are huge. Its social and cultural values are an integral part of the Zimbabwean lifestyle, therefore efforts to ensure lion conservation need to be strengthened. The Zimbabwe Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the Lion will guide the conservation and management of this important top predator. The strategy and action plan is the outcome from a workshop in which stakeholders representing the wildlife industry, technocrats, inter and non-governmental organizations, wildlife producers etc, actively participated. Hence the strategy and action plan addresses the needs of this country. It, at the same time responds to regional and international standards set by Treaties such as CITES and CBD etc. Collaborative work on Research and Monitoring on lion needs to be strengthened to ensure that adaptive management is practiced and is also based on sound scientific data. The strategy and action plan also sets the stage for the sharing of experiences between stakeholders and therefore creates a conducive environment for researchers, protected area managers, policy makers and local communities to map the way forward for lion management. We need to mindful of the need to put communities who bear the largest cost of living with the lion at the centre of all conservation efforts. |
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(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |