Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas

• Poaching
• Oil exploration programme (issue resolved)
• Mining project
• Tourism development
• Management systems/ management plan

On 30 March 2021, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/302/documents/, reporting as follows:

• Anti-poaching measures are continuing through collaborative joint operations, meetings and intelligence sharing with Zambia, as well as the fortnightly river border patrols. The implementation of the anti-poaching strategy is continuing. The operation of the Zambezi Valley Reaction Unit and the Rhino Task Force are well resourced;
• The use of Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) is being extended to the whole of the Zambezi Valley;
• Efforts are underway to establish groups of junior and community rangers as well as community wildlife clubs to strengthen wildlife community conservation, building on existing community involvement projects;
• The finalization of the General Management Plan (GMP) was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but it is undergoing review through the financial support of Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the World Heritage Fund. The final Plan will be submitted to the World Heritage Centre upon completion;
• The implementation of the Elephant Management Plan is underway. The data from satellite collaring of elephants to track their movements have shown that they are not crossing over into Zambia, the reasons for which is being investigated. Several other studies are also being conducted, including vegetation mapping;
• Sport hunting in Sapi Safari Area and the northern part of Chewore Safari Area continues to be suspended;
• The finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of the Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools National Parks Trans-Frontier Conservation Area was delayed also due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is in progress;
• The cooperation between the States Parties of Zimbabwe and Zambia was strengthened further through the organization of the first research collaboration meeting in 2020 to identify future opportunities for collaborated research;
• A map of tourism concessions in Mana Pools National Park, and a map showing tourism infrastructures across the property have been provided.

The State Party’s continued positive actions in addressing poaching in the property is welcomed, especially through the continued collaboration with the neighboring State Party of Zambia, community involvement initiatives, and further expansion of the use of SMART. The details of the outcomes of the habitat surveys and data on poaching and other available conservation indicators were, however, not provided. The State Party should therefore be requested to submit this information.

It is appreciated that the findings from the elephant collaring study is being further examined. The outcomes of the study will be important in informing future management of the species and the property, and therefore it is recommended that the World Heritage Centre is kept informed on the outcomes.

It is recommended that the activities, which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic should be completed as soon as the situation allows, including the finalization of the GMP and the signing of the MoU for the establishment of the transfrontier conservation area. The continued suspension of sport hunting in selected parts of the property is noted, but no reference is made to the suspension in the buffer zone, as previously reported by the State Party. In this context, recalling that the Committee had requested the State Party to clarify the status and extent of the buffer zone, it is recommended that the State Party be reminded to provide this detail.

From the submitted map of the tourism concessions in Mana Pools National Park, several appear to be located around the Zambezi River. Noting the previous confirmation that each proposal will be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), it is recommended that the State Party ensure these are conducted in line with the IUCN World Heritage Advice Note on Environmental Assessment, including a specific assessment of impacts in relation to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and submitted to the World Heritage Centre for review by IUCN before approval of the projects

It is noted that no update is provided on the monitoring and mitigation activities of the Vine Camp lodge. As tourism activities return following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to ensure monitoring and mitigation measures at the Vine Camp lodge continue and are reported to the World Heritage Centre.

No update was provided by the State Party of Zambia regarding the proposed Kangaluwi and Chisawa opencast mine in Lower Zambezi National Park. Noting reports in the media that the Court of Appeals of Zambia has dismissed an Appeal to stop the proposed large scale opencast mine in Lower Zambezi National Park, it is recommended that the Committee reiterate once again its concerns regarding the potential impact this project would likely pose to the OUV of the property and request the State Party of Zambia to provide an update on the mine project and not to go forward with this project, in line with its Decision 38 COM 7B.97.