A quick personal note to pass on my and CLZ’s sincere thanks for the valuable support provided by the SwissAfrican Foundation. Your assistance to CLZ really does have a huge positive impact in the Lower Zambezi which includes impact on the people, wildlife, staff of CLZ and the welfare and effectiveness of the rangers we support.
Thank you.
Warm regards,
Ian Stevenson (CEO Conservation Lower Zambezi)
Anti Poaching, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
2025 - Anti Poaching, Lower Zambezi, Zambia - donation of USD 23,569
In early 2025, CLZ was significantly affected by the freeze on USAID funding, requiring a rapid shift in priorities to maintain field operations. While CLZ was able to continue covering ranger salaries, the critical funding of SwissAfrican Foundation was partially redirected.
The flexibility of our funding helped support DNPW (Department of National Parks and Wildlife) patrol activities and ensured that fully equipped ranger teams remained operational throughout the year.
SwissAfrican Foundation (SAF) has consistently supported Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) - between 2020 and 2024, SAF funding enabled aerial patrols and contributed to staff salaries for Operations Centre staff and Basecamp teams.
In 2025, CLZ presented SwissAfrican Foundation with identified funding gaps and SAF committed to support DNPW Wildlife Officers stationed at Kulefu, the operations base staff within the Control Room and the Marine Unit. SAF support covering essential costs including rations, staff salaries, transport, VSAT connectivity, equipment has enabled sustained ground and aerial patrols, collectively strengthening law enforcement and wildlife protection across the park. The Marine Unit continues to play a critical role in monitoring cross-border illegal activities along the stretch of the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, where regular water patrols are essential to deter wildlife crime.
As a result of the continued operation of the Control Room and the strategic positioning of Kulefu base within the park, CLZ and DNPW achieved the following remarkable results in 2025: 92 suspects were arrested, 296 snares removed and 1494 kg of bushmeat confiscated.
More success stories related to this project
Our partner
Conservation Lower Zambezi
Patrols in the Lower Zambezi conducted by Conservation Lower Zambezi (CLZ) and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) are focused in the Lower Zambezi National Park (4,092km2) and the Chiawa Game Management Area (2,344km2), with an increased presence in the Rufunsa Game Management Area (3,179km2).
Community Scouts (employed by CLZ) and Wildlife Police Officers (employed by DNPW) patrol the Park targeting hotspot areas prone to wildlife crime. Deployments are identified based on intelligence generated through collaboration with DNPW Intelligence Units and through extensive data records from CLZ’s 24/hour Control Centre. Patrols in the GMAs are also conducted to support the communities and safeguard their crops from wildlife, thus allowing their livelihoods and the wildlife to thrive.
CLZ have a technologically advanced monitoring and evaluation system (that is continually improving) which allows real-time tracking of all teams in the field. All deployments are equipped with navigational, solar and data recording equipment in order to streamline data collection and track successes in the field over the years.
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