The African
College for
Community-Based Natural Resource Management
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| onserving Africa's wildlife is a challenging task. In Zambia, the African College is | |
| using Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) coupled with democratic institutions that are participatory and fiscally responsible to address this challenge. Its mission is to help rural communities manage their natural resources sustainably and profitably. In order to achieve this, the College works closely with elected community leaders to help foster good governance skills and sound resource management practices that encourage full community participation. | |
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The College |
is unique, being the only college in Africa that focuses specifically on |
| rural communities in remote, wildlife-rich areas where levels of illiteracy and poverty are often high. Such learning environments present major obstacles to teaching in conventional ways. The College was founded by the Zambian Government over 10 years ago to help resolve this paradox. Central to its success is the need to make a long-term commitment to the training process. | |
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The College |
is located close to a number of areas (GMA's) implementing CBNRM |
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where lessons and results can be more easily studied for applying elsewhere in the country. It has a technical staff capable of conducting such analyses, and on the basis of these results, College staff modify and expand training modules to enhance the transfer of skills needed to successfully implement CBNRM as a wildlife conservation strategy. |
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The College |
recognizes the importance of building market links to rural communities. |
| This is because much of the natural resource sector markets are not only illegal, but are unregulated and often result in the depletion of these resources. Through proper market linkages and financial incentives, the College helps communities benefit more fully from legal markets and participate more directly in such markets through joint-ventures with private sector partners. | |
| To learn more about the college... | |
| Location, Courses and Staff | Research |
| Tour of CBNRM skills (great photos!) | |
| Wildlife Conservation Hall | Patrons of the College |