Lower Zambezi world first zero carbon national park

The Lower Zambezi National Park has claimed to be the world’s first national park to achieve a carbon neutral status. Reports National Geographic

The reserve has now reached a point where it generates little greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, and the unavoidable emissions are offset by purchasing Verified Carbon Units (VFU).

Each single tourism concessionaire based in the park participated in this initiative. Even lodges based on the outskirts of the park funded the carbon neutrality of all the conservation management operations.

Operators offset their head offices in Lusaka, Zambia’s Capital. Private sector operators voluntarily funded this milestone from their own internal revenues despite the fact that tourism suffered from a significant downturn in Zambia, and in other parts of Africa in 2015.

"The Lower Zambezi National Park is a world class tourism and conservation product, " said Mr. Grant Cummings of Chiawa and Old Mondoro Camps, whose camps were the first to participate in this pioneering effort. "The operators are truly committed to this area, and to going the extra mile to run responsible, and sustainable products that contribute to Zambia’s position of offering some of the most fantastic and unique tourism experiences in Africa."

The methodology used for carbon neutrality assessment followed international protocol, and lodges also worked to improve energy efficiency, for example, solar power investments which reduced generator use. After this, the remaining emissions from lodges, conservation operations (ZAWA and CLZ patrolling, cooking fuel and camp emissions) and fuel use in the park were offset using VCUs from the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project.

Each year, the operator’s carbon footprint will be assessed to continue with carbon neutrality and improvement of the emissions reduction strategy.

Thirteen lodges participated in this effort, of which six lodges are located in the park: Chiawa Camp, Old Mondoro Bush Camp, Anabezi Camp, Mwambashi River Lodge, Sausage Tree and Potato Bush Camp. Impressively, lodges in the adjacent Chiawa Game Management Area, such as Baines River Camp, Chongwe River Camp, Chongwe River House, Kasaka Lodge, and Tsika Island, Kanyemba Lodge, and Royal Zambezi Lodge partnered in the effort, even though some are not directly dependent on the park on a commercial basis.

Mr. Kampamba Kombe, the Acting Director General at ZAWA, told National Geographic: "This innovative achievement not only supports conservation and poverty reduction activities around the Lower Zambezi National Park, but also aims to promote Lower Zambezi National Park as a world class wildlife tourism destination".

Hassan Sachedina, BCP’s Managing Director said "It shows that if small family-owned businesses in Africa are taking responsibility for their emissions, it should inspire the confidence of Fortune 500 companies to invest in developing the carbon markets through projects with significant conservation and poverty reduction benefits"

More info: HERE

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle