Freedom, our Anti-Poaching and Community Liaison Manager, who is part of Bushlife Conservancy and Bushlife Support Unit, recently attended a conference in Washington DC, funded by the US government – The African Regional Program in International Visitor Leadership Program. Freedom was one of only 13 people from Africa nominated to attend, and represent Zimbabwe in a program titled “Combating Wildlife Trafficking”.
Freedom presented on Bushlife Support Unit’s anti – poaching support rendered to Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, community outreach, engagement and projects support as a way of bringing together social responsibility and networking towards wildlife resources monitoring. We are pioneering new itiatitives through a collaborative community approach which will see the development of junior ranger programs, resource monitors, self-help projects, wildlife conservation clubs in schools and much more.
Freedom had the good fortune to meet with many people and organisations in the conservation sector, who shared their ideas and learnings, some of which are outlined below: