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From My Perpective

Karin M. Krchnak, Senior Advisor


I have spent more than 15 years either traveling or living overseas to work on sustainable development issues. To be honest, there have been many moments when it has been a challenge to stay positive about our prospects for improving our global environment.

My trip with the Great Rivers Partnership team to the Zambezi River in October 2006, however, energized me. It was wonderful to meet so many people dedicated to improving local livelihoods, reducing human-wildlife conflicts and supporting the long-term health of the Zambezi River basin. Having transitioned over the years from developing and managing projects to serving as a policy advisor, I often miss the connection with people on the ground—talking with them, laughing with them and learning from each other.

We covered considerable ground during the trip, seeing first hand projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Conservancy’s partner, the African Wildlife Foundation, has developed a Zambezi Heartland Strategy, which is an impressive effort to protect and conserve the rich natural resources of the region through direct involvement of the communities. However, the rampant poverty and health issues (HIV/AIDs) of the people living in the region make conservation efforts that much more difficult than in other regions of the globe.  Conservation is challenged by low wages (e.g., the minimum wage in Zambia is $100 per month with approximately 80 percent of the population making less than that) and corruption (e.g., licenses being issued for trophy hunts beyond the allowable quota, protected forested lands cleared for commercial agriculture), among other issues. 

The human-wildlife conflicts were quite clear with people describing how elephants would destroy their villages and sometimes kill people. Although we did not see it first hand, we were made very aware of the conflicts in legislation among the three countries — Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique — that reduce the effectiveness of fishery management approaches in the Zambezi River. When Zambia does not permit fishing from November to February, fishermen simply cross to Mozambique to fish. We had the chance, though, to see a fishing enterprise and even talk with a woman who is buying fish from the local community and selling it in the towns. The whole village was one big fishing venture with everyone so open to share their efforts to improve their lives.

An Abundance of Life

As the Zambezi Heartland Watershed Assessment notes, this area really has “some of the most outstanding terrestrial and riverine wildlife viewing and landscape in Southern Africa.”  I could not agree more.  I rafted the Nile River when I worked in Uganda many years ago, but I have to say that the Zambezi is magnificent. Maybe the difference is that I saw so much more wildlife. The Zambezi is teeming with elephants, roan antelope, impala, kudu, baboons, hippos, snake eagles and waterbucks. Although we only saw lion tracks, it was good to see some evidence of the more than 600 lions that are in or around Mana Pools Park. Also, I was absolutely amazed to see people in hand-made canoes, half filled with water, making their way on the river (which can be quite choppy) with crocodiles visible everywhere.
 
I am pleased to be part of the Great Rivers Partnership. Particularly, as a water person, I am happy to see initiatives that are thinking and working at a river basin scale. It is not easy, as there are many conflicting demands being placed on our rivers. The eight countries through which the Zambezi River passes are trying to agree upon the creation of ZAMCOM—the Zambezi Watercourse Commission. I hope that the Conservancy can be a part of shaping this new entity, helping ensure that freshwater ecosystem conservation is built into the long-term water management plans of each of the countries.

One of the worst parts of my trips was the fact that I did not receive my luggage until I was returning to the United States. This meant I did not have any of the gifts I had brought for children (crayons, paper, bouncing balls). The smiles and laughs they shared with me even though I had nothing to bring them will remain with me forever.

Karin Krchnak

Karin Krchnak © The Nature Conservancy

 

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"The eight countries through which the Zambezi River passes are trying to agree upon the creation of ZAMCOM — the Zambezi Watercourse Commission.

I hope that the Conservancy can be a part of shaping this new entity, helping ensure that freshwater ecosystem conservation is built into the long-term water management plans of each of the countries."

Karin Krchnak, Senior Advisor, The Nature Conservancy.


Zambezi River

Along the banks of the Zambezi River, © The Nature Conservancy

 

 


Karin Krchnak

Karin Krchnak, © The Nature Conservancy