Mission: To work with community and conservation partners in the protection of the wildlife and habitats of the South Luangwa ecosystem.
Vision: The long-term survival of wildlife and habitats in South Luangwa under the custodianship of the Zambian people.
Since officially registering in 2003, Conservation South Luangwa (CSL) has worked in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) on the frontline of wildlife conservation and human-wildlife coexistence in the South Luangwa Valley. CSL works to protect the 1,400,000 hectares of largely intact wilderness in eastern Zambia that make up the South Luangwa National Park and surrounding game management areas.
CSL practises a multi-faceted approach to wildlife resource management and protection, working in collaboration with DNPW to implement counter trade/trafficking measures including anti-poaching foot patrols, aerial surveillance, sniffer dog detection and tracking work, alongside direct community engagement with people living alongside the wildlife of the South Luangwa Valley.
CSL supports 108 community scouts to help DNPW to protect the wildlife and habitats of the Luangwa Valley. CSL pays salaries, provides technical support, patrol equipment, rations, training and transport.
Detection dogs are increasingly being used to reduce wildlife trafficking by detecting wildlife contraband and tracking wildlife crime suspects. The CSL K9 Unit is Zambia’s first conservation K9 Unit.
Snaring is wildlife’s silent killer, claiming the lives of many animals in the Luangwa Valley each year. In partnership with DNPW and the Zambian Carnivore Programme, CSL tries to combat this by deploying regular anti-snaring patrols and treating snared animals.
The Aerial Unit has evolved to become a significant contributor in safeguarding the South Luangwa ecosystem, detecting illegal activities such as poachers’ camps, bush fires and bushmeat drying racks.
Human-wildlife coexistence
When elephants damage crops, properties, or even human lives, this negatively influences attitudes toward conservation. CSL works to reduce conflict with mitigation measures, alternative livelihoods and community awareness programmes.
Dr Mwamba Sichande manages the only community veterinary clinic in Mambwe District. CSL aims to improve domestic animal health by increasing sterilisations and rabies vaccinations which also reduces the risk of disease transmission to South Luangwa’s wildlife.
