Featured Conservation Group: Wildlife and Environment Society of Zimbabwe

The Wildlife and Environment  Zimbabwe (WEZ) is the largest and most prominent  organisation of its kind in Zimbabwe and it has been operating for nearly 80 years. Its membership base of 2192 members (2004) is very strong, just slightly fewer than the number of members on its records in the year 2000. This is quite a remarkable achievement given the difficulties of inflation and political unrest that have affected all organizations operating in Zimbabwe at the moment.

WEZ has been a very active organization that has organized game counts in national parks, lobbied for the creation of parks and reserves and has lobbied for better environmental protection regulations. However, their greatest achievement over the years has been their education programme in schools and communities that has generated widespread public environmental awareness. They have 11 branches and 6 nature reserves around the country as well as a quarterly magazine covering a range of issues such as natural history, policy and wildlife management making them an extremely effective, country-wide organisation.

The mission of WEZ is ‘to encourage and assist all people of Zimbabwe to understand the importance of wildlife and the environment and to conserve Zimbabwe's natural resources for the well-being of current and future generations and to ensure that the utilization of these natural resources is fair and sustainable.' Since the year 2000, the society has had to rise to meet new challenges such as trying to stem poaching of wildlife for food on resettled farms and to educate newly resettled farmers. This is particularly difficult due to the current economic inflation and widespread poverty, but WEZ is a forerunner in the field and is embarking on poverty alleviation projects that aim to encourage people to utilize their natural resources in more sustainable ways.

WEZ are faring well under the circumstances but are always seeking donations to keep existing projects running and have numerous shelved projects requiring funding. Donations can be accepted locally into Zimbank Ac.No 4129-118444-002 and in the United Kingdom HSBC Ac.NO 40-25-34 01690612. Overseas members are asked to renew their membership by contacting Ian Macpherson in the UK, macpherson@dircon.co.uk , while locals should contact Memebrship Officer Mrs. Shirley Silversides on 263 (04) 747500 or via e-mail at infowild@mweb.co.zw .