SCI Foundation is working on a unique environmental initiative with Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia to help them share natural resources and their management in the underdeveloped trans-boundary region linking the three countries.

The initiative was launched in 1999 to develop a partnership to manage natural resources in the ZiMoZa districts. The districts were chosen because they share a common border as well as ecosystems, and they have formed local community based natural resource management committees to help their districts benefit from the natural resources without interfering with their neighbors. They also share responsibility for ensuring that hunting, fishing and bush burning are controlled in all three regions.

The ZiMoZa trans-boundary natural resources management initiative will also help the participating regions work together to develop the area by building schools, health centers, water supplies, and other amenities. SCI Foundation supported a workshop to encourage the local communities' committee support for the ZiMoZa program. SCI Foundation' focus is on implementation of conservation hunting programs linked across the three countries.

We have developed an excellent working relationship with the three countries' wildlife departments. The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zambia Wildlife Management Authority, Mozambique Wildlife Department, IUCN, WWF, private operators and the local communities are all supportive of SCI Foundation's work in the area to link wildlife management with international regulations such as CITES, US Endangered Species Act and EU importation regulations.

The action plan that was developed as a result of the May 2005 workshop regarding coordinating the management of a large conservation area adjacent to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia (ZIMOZA) is beginning to be implemented. Critical factors include identifying and resolving issues so that a tri-country Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) can be signed. A MoU is necessary to attract funding from international cooperating agencies. An additional planned activity is to implement an area-zoning so that settlers in wildlife lands are relocated to more suitable areas. This should result in less conflict between the communities and the wildlife. While these issues may seem distant from wildlife conservation, they lay the groundwork for long term management of wildlife areas that can and will continue to support hunting.

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