Wildlife Conservation Hall

at the International Airport

Mfuwe, Zambia

he Conservation Hall is a colorful, pictorial representation of rural communities undergoing transformation of how they use land and natural resources through the ADMADE process and facilitated by The African College for Community-Based Natural Resource Management. This is helping tourists who visit Zambia learn more about the roles communities play in conserving wildlife in Zambia.  Th Hall also provides an important way for community members to see how their efforts are being recognized and appreciated internationally.

he Conservation Hall is located at the Mfuwe International Airport , which receives each year over 3,000 tourists on their arrival to Luangwa Valley to enjoy it's abundant wildlife and picturesque landscape bordering the Luangwa River.  Staffed by two interpreters, the Conservation Hall conveys an interesting message with its various displays about what a special program ADMADE is for involving local communities in the management of wildlife and the benefits they derive from this resource.

n full wall murals, tourists view scenes depicting village life.  On the first mural, villagers are shown using poor land use practices before the introduction of ADMADE.  Bush burning, poor farming methods, fish poisoning, wasteful tree-cutting and so forth are evident as are other problems like hunger, malnutrition, and poor health care. Because of inept leadership, families face little hope of improving their livelihoods and many families resort to poaching.  The second mural introduces the African College and is shown as a facilitator of different skills to allow community leaders to implement the ADMADE program,  giving hope that community  problems are solvable for improving livelihoods without destroying resources.  In a final mural, a transformed community is shown where leaders are democratically elected, household groups have formed small business enterprises from bee-keeping and tourist-related services. The message is clear, communities can become responsible conservationists by planning and organizing their communities to solve livelihood needs and by managing wildlife through legal resource use markets. 

lso featured in the Conservation Hall is a ‘Community Shop’. This shop sells authentic village products such as leathercraft, rice, pottery, and honey, providing a legal market for rural communities to advance their incomes. The shop also sells wire snares to support a revolving fund which is used by the College to buy illegal snares from villagers who want to stop the practice of snaring wildlife. Thousands of  wild animals are killed with wire snares each year. The “Community Shop” is providing a way for people who want to stop the practice.

he Conservation Hall enjoyed it’s first season of operation by hosting hundreds of interested tourists from around the world. The College anticipates an even better season next year.