In August 2025, the Community 4 Nature (C4N) Project was officially launched in the Masoka community, Mbire District. Backed by short-term funding, this four-month initiative will carry out a feasibility study to test the strength and viability of an ambitious new concept: biodiversity credits rooted in both science and local ecological knowledge.

 

Why Masoka, why now?

Masoka is no ordinary community. Long recognised as one of Zimbabwe’s leading Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) communities, it sits at the frontline of conservation – surrounded by rich wildlife, yet facing increasing pressures.

Traditional CAMPFIRE revenue streams have declined in recent years, driven largely by reduced hunting quotas and fewer clients from Europe and the United States. For Masoka, this means fewer funds for development and a growing urgency to find new, sustainable ways to generate income from nature.

At the same time, the conservation landscape itself is shifting. Protecting wildlife and safeguarding natural resources cannot succeed without the full participation of local communities. C4N is designed as a response to this challenge – testing a pathway to secure long-term, community-driven conservation finance.

 

A new approach to valuing nature

The C4N Project places communities at the centre of conservation finance through two key innovations:

• • Citizen science – Local community members will generate evidence for biodiversity credits, building scientific capacity and ensuring monitoring happens at the grassroots level.

• • Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) – Too often overlooked in formal scientific narratives, LEK will be acknowledged and integrated as a core source of evidence. By blending lived experience with ecological data, C4N aims to create a more inclusive, resilient model for both conservation and development.

 

What the first phase will achieve

Running from July to October 2025, this initial four-month phase has five objectives:

1. 1. Test the practicality of the project using a mixed-methods, participatory research approach.
   2. Build understanding of the community’s priorities, needs, and interests in relation to the project concept.
   3. Strengthen the evidence base on Masoka’s environmental landscape and challenges through field visits and dialogue
   4. Explore how LEK is currently valued and used by the Masoka community, and how it can be integrated into future design efforts.
   5. Lay the foundation for strong and lasting relationships with the Masoka community.

 

Looking ahead

The C4N Project is a small but important step on a much larger journey: rethinking how nature can generate sustainable value for people, while protecting the biodiversity on which we all depend.

Over the coming months, the C4N team will be working closely with the Masoka community, learning together, and co-designing the building blocks for a future where conservation and community livelihoods thrive side by side.

We are excited to see where this journey takes us – and to share the lessons along the way.