Pilot Project
Chewore South
Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe
The Chewore Conservation Trust was established to protect this landscape, support surrounding communities, and provide a platform for long-term conservation and collaborative management in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
About the Project
202’000 hectares UNESCO World Heritage Site
25-year collaborative management with the national parks authority
An incubation partnership with African Parks
A wildlife refuge for endangered species
Chewore South is now under active management by a permanent team based full-time in the field. Operations began in January 2025, with a focus on building trusted relationships with local communities and partners.
The Trust works closely with African Parks and in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. This collaboration is focused on building operational capacity and ensuring strong foundations for long-term restoration, and community engagement.
Assisting Local Communities
Improving human–wildlife coexistence is a top priority. Communities around Chewore, including the Masoka Community, experience significant crop losses from wildlife. The initial focus is on building strong relationships and working together to find practical, lasting solutions.
Protecting Wildlife
In partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, we are supporting the rangers on the front line with training, essential equipment, and improved working conditions. Our current focus includes increasing ranger numbers, expanding skills, upgrading communications, enhancing deployment and monitoring capacity to tackle threats like poaching and illegal mining.
Improving Infrastructure
Upgrades to ranger stations, vehicle access, and communication systems enhance field operations and management capacity. These improvements ensure more efficient protection of Chewore’s wildlife and habitats.
Developing Alternative Tourism
Various new tourism developments to substitute historical trophy hunting will be a crucial part of Chewore South’s long-term financial sustainability. We are exploring ecotourism opportunities that can support and showcase conservation efforts.
Research & Innovation
Our ecology team is conducting comprehensive biodiversity monitoring in Chewore South to assess ecosystem health and track the effectiveness of conservation strategies. This research paves the way for Nature Credits and additional outcome-based funding solutions.
Our vision is a future where Zimbabwe’s nature is valued and nationally protected areas have the long-term funding needed to conserve biodiversity and improve the prosperity of local communities.
National Ambition
Chewore South is a platform for developing practical nature finance solutions tailored to Zimbabwe.
We aim to work with international partners to develop investment models such as biodiversity credits and outcome-based bonds, and adapt them to Zimbabwe’s ecological and institutional context.
This work is carried out in close coordination with local communities, national authorities, and conservation NGOs, with the goal of creating scalable approaches that can support the country’s Protected Areas Network and contribute to national policy objectives.
Partners on the ground
The Zimbabwean Parks and Wildlife Management Authority is the national body responsible for managing Zimbabwe’s protected areas. Their leadership ensures alignment with national conservation priorities and long-term sustainability.
African Parks brings two decades of experience in managing protected areas across Africa. Their operational and technical support helps ensure high standards of conservation, governance, and community engagement in Chewore South.
Discover Chewore South
Our needs moving forward
Chewore South is a long-term conservation initiative with a strong foundation already in place.
We are seeking catalytic support to advance work on black rhino reintroduction planning, anti-poaching operations, community engagement, biodiversity monitoring, and infrastructure upgrades.
If you’re excited by this vision and want to be part of it, we’d love to hear from you.