Sioma Camp ~ Zambia

Community Involvement

At this stage the below list represents only a tentative inventory with brief bullet points. A more elaborated description will require extensive consultations with community groups, households as well as private individuals from the area.

The (‘eco-tourism’) approach is based on the assumption that if relevant designed community based natural resources use management is put in place resulting in a situation where the benefits - including from tourism activities - from living with wildlife outweigh the costs then communities will react rationally and respond positively – including to reduce or stop illegal hunting - and start managing resources in a more ‘responsible’ and conservation oriented way – to the benefit of all.

Employment of members from the local community at the camp
Training of staff
Establishing ‘outgrower’ schemes – if possible based on small scale irrigation - in order to provide the camp with as many agricultural and other products as possible. (Vegetables, fruit, fish, meat, eggs etc.).
Assist the community in improved access to funds and skills training. An example could be to assists setting up of small scale tourism ventures (accommodation, guiding, tours, cultural activities, crafts, caretakers of and guides around the Sioma Falls etc.) through facilitation of access to funds from the Community Tourism Development Facility anchored within the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources.
Develop and establish joint venture/partnership based bush camps, community or privately owned accomodation facilities (bed and breakfast, camp and ‘lodges’ etc.)
Establish incentive based wildlife promotion schemes. As an example a ‘community trust fund’ could become the beneficiary of ‘flagship game species bonus system’. Incentives in the form of cash could be paid every time a group of tourists on a game drive/walk observe say leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dog, sable, sitatunga etc. Observations could be certified by the SC guide and one of the tourists.
Support to antipoaching patrolling by ZAWA through subsidising/buying of rations, fuel etc. Perhaps an incentive/disincentive system may also be applied here where scouts ZAWA police officers could receive bonuses for confiscation of snares, muzzleloaders, guns etc. whereas the same bonus may be deducted from the above mentioned ‘flagship species’ bonus paid to villagers.
Small scale environmental education activities. These could coincide with monthly handing over of funds (cash) from the above mentioned ‘flagship game species bonus system’ to for example representatives from the local CRB’s. The environmental education activities could be showing of a film/video on wildlife (for children and adults) and other films (for adults) and cartoons (for children).

These are just initial ideas. Other ideas or comments on the above proposals are most welcome.