A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project Chizarira Conservation Area - Natural Resource Summary The Chizarira Conservation Area has the Chizarira...
Author: Esther Anthony
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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Chizarira Conservation Area - Natural Resource Summary The Chizarira Conservation Area has the Chizarira National Park at its core. Chirisa Safari area is continguous to the Chizarira southern boundary, and Chete lies on the Lake Kariba shoreline. The Sijarira Forest Land is continguous with the western boundary of the Chete Safari Area. The National Park is almost 2 000 km2, while the Safari Areas total almost 3 500 km2. Sijarira Forest Land is 258 km2.

Vegetation cover in the area is largely determined by elevation. The highlands of the Chizarira NP are mainly Brachystegia- Julbernardia woodland and mixed deciduous open woodland and wooded grasslands. Common associates are Diplorhynchus, Bukea and Diospyros.

Landform, Geology & Soils The Chizarira Conservation Area is dominated by the Zambezi escarpment which forms the boundary between the higher miombo areas and the Zambezi valley. Chizarira NP forms a watershed between Sengwa River and more localised drainage basins feeding into Lake Kariba

Wildlife The area contains a full spectrum of large mammals. The Chete SA was famous for its rhino population in the 1970s and equally famous for its subsequent decline. The lakeshore areas support some spectacular crocodile populations with the Sinamwenda, Ruziruhuru and Senkwi river estuaries being their main breeding areas.

Water Resources Sengwa, Mucheni, Ruzuruhuru Rivers, Lake Kariba, Numerous pans and springs in Chirisa Climate and Vegetation The lower lying areas adjacent to Lake Kariba are hot and dry usually with less than 600 mm rain per annum. Rainfall in the higher areas (Chizarira and Chirisa) can be as high as 800 mm per annum. However, this is very variable and in most years rainfall measures closer to 600 mm.

The lower lying areas adjacent to Lake Kariba, parts of the Chizarira NP and the Chirisa SA are predominately Mopane woodlands (Colophospermum mopane) with Balanites, Erythroxylum, Ximenia and Acacia being common.

Neighbours Outside the protected areas the main communal lands are the Manjolo, Siabuwa and Gokwe CLs. To the south and west of Chirisa SA are the Busi and Kana communal lands.

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Chizarira Conservation Area

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Chizarira Conservation Area - Management and Utilisation Administration

Administration

Administration of the area is fragmented and each area has its own separate administration. The Chizarira National Park is administered from its headquarters on the Chizarira escarpment. The Chirisa Safari Area has its headquaters in the south-east at Sipani fly gate, with the main field stations at Chewonde and Chirisa Spring. Other field stations are located at Mukuzhi and Gadze. The Chete Safari Area is administered from its headquarters on the Lake Kariba shore opposite Chete Island. A field station is located at Sianturu on the Ruziruhuru river. Sijarira Forest Land is administered from a base at Sijarira on the lakeshore.

Each area is administered from its own headquarters and field stations.

Planning A policy document exists for Chizarira NP (1972). There are no other planning documents except to note that the lakeshore areas (Chete and Sijarira) were part of a lakeshore planning exercise in the 1990s.

Access Tarrred roads reach the fringes of the area – from the west via Binga and from the east via Gokwe. The main gravel road between Karoi and Binga traverses the area but is in poor condition. Parts of the southern and eastern boundaries of Chizarira and Chirisa are fenced.

Infrastructure Roads: Approx 1 500 km River Crossings: Many are problematic, especially in the rains Airstrips: Chete, Sijarira, Chizarira, Chewonde, Sengwa Research Buildings: Basic PWMA infrastructure Radio: Standard PWMA system Water: From Lake Kariba and boreholes Energy: Diesel generators at larger stations

Current Tourism The remoteness of these National Parks means that tourism levels are low. A lodge is situated just outside the Park, a few kilometres off the main Binga-Karoi gravel road. The main use of the area is through Safari Hunting. Chete and Chirisa Safari Areas and the Sijarira Forest Land are popular with local Safari Hunting companies who bring international clients to the area. In addition, parts of the Siabuwa Communal Land are used for Safari Hunting. 6 tourist camping sites are located within the Chizarira NP and a lodge is located on its northern boundary. A photographic tourism lodge is situated in Chete.

Other Utilisation The Chete Safari Area has the University of Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba Research Station. Established soon after the lake was built this station has subsequently fallen into disuse and most of the buildings have been stripped. The Sengwa Research Station is located on the southern boundary of the Chirisa Safari Area. Little active research is going on at present but the buildings and infrastructure are still in a relatively good state. The University of Zimbabwe has a lease on land on the south bank of the Sinamwenda River. All facilities are in a state of disrepair.

Illegal Use Illegal use of the area is rife. Poachers are known to use the bus to get access to the area. Cattle incursions are a major problem for Chirisa SA and Chizarira NP. There is a massive increase in subsistence and commercial poaching, both for bushmeat and trophies.

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Individulal Areas - Chizarira National Park

! Aspect

Brief Discription

Area

1 868 km2

Key Features

Chizarira escarpment. Miombo and mixed woodlands on higher ground. Mopane woodlands to the south. Relatively well watered. Much of the southern boundary is fenced. Prime “wilderness area” with walking a popular activity (until recently)

Roads

Approx. 250 km. Most in poor condition and many impassable during the rains

Other Infrastructure

Headquarters at Chizarira. 6 exclusive camping sites, most of which are undeveloped.

Administration

Patrols out of Chizarira camp

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Individulal Areas - Chete Safari Area and Sijarira Forest Area

! Aspect

Brief Discription

Area

Chete 1 104 km2, Sijarira 90 km2.

Key Features

Rugged country with extensive Lake Kariba shoreline. Sinamwenda, Ruziruhuru and Senkwi River estuaries are important ecological areas.

Roads

Approximate roads – 250 km in Chete and 60 km in Sijarira.

Other Infrastructure

Chete HQ at Chete Gorge, sub-station at Siantura. Defunct University research station at Mwenda. Sijarira HQ on shoreline. Several hunting camps on Lake Kariba

Administration

For Chete from Chete Gorge and the field station at Sianturu. Sijarira from the Forestry Commission lakeshore HQ.

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Individulal Areas - Chirisa Safari Area

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Aspect

Brief Discription

Area

1 789 km2

Key Features

Sengwa and Chemhondoro rivers.

Roads

Approx 400 km of roads

Other Infrastructure

Administered from Sipani Gate with field stations at Chewonde, Chirisa Spring, Gadzi, and Mukuzhi. Airstrip at Chewonde. Hunting camps at Chewonde.

Administration

By PWMA. Cooperation and assistance by Concessionaire Safari Hunting Company.

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A Wildlife conservation & Protection Project

Tashinga Initiative Assistance CHIZARIRA CONSERVATION AREA - PROJECT ASSISTANCE - OUTLINE Component

Details

Planning and Initialisation

Mapping and resource/infrastructure inventory Planning framework

Infrastructure

Chizarira Operational Base Sipani Gate Satellite Base Busi River Satellite Base Central Western Satellite Base Chewonde Operational Base Chirisa Spring Satellite Base Mukuzhi Satellite Base Chete Operational BaseChizarira

Protection

Wildlife Protection Unit based at Chizarira, Sipani Gate, Chiwonde, Mukuzhi, Gadze, Chete, Sengwa. Vehicle Tools Boat, motor and trailer Radios GPS and camera Binoculars Satellite phone

Training

Ranger Selection Wildlife Protection for Ranger: 4 x 10 days Refresher : 4 x 7 days Mechanic and Driver Specialised Equipment Administration Reporting Conservation Medicine

Monitoring

Patrol effort Project implementation monitoring

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Solar Water systems Solar Power systems Buildings, new and existing upgrades Radio and communication links Refurbishment of Tourism Sites Refurbishment of road networks Airstrips upgrade

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