Zambia Launches Legal Hub to Advance Wildlife Conservation and Food Security
The Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Tourism, has launched the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme Legal Hub, a publicly accessible online platform designed to strengthen governance in wildlife conservation and food security.
Developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and primarily funded by the European Union, the Hub provides a central platform for accessing laws and regulations related to wildlife management, land tenure, food safety, forestry, animal health and ecotourism.
Validated by the Zambian Government in April 2023, the Legal Hub was created using five diagnostic tools that assessed and mapped Zambia’s legal frameworks for sustainable wildlife management, customary law and enforcement mechanisms.
By improving access to legal information and supporting evidence-based reforms, the Hub aims to empower community-led conservation and drive inclusive policy transformation. One model supported by the SWM Programme is the Mize Community Conservancy in Southern Zambia, which promotes equitable benefits from wildlife recovery and management. The Hub will inform future legal and policy reforms, ensuring biodiversity conservation goes hand in hand with food security and improved livelihoods.
Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba hailed the launch as a milestone in Zambia’s efforts to link conservation with development. “The Legal Hub reflects our government’s determination to strengthen wildlife governance and ensure that conservation delivers real benefits to our people.By enhancing access to laws and information, the Hub will empower communities and institutions to protect biodiversity, secure food resources and promote sustainable tourism,” said Sikumba.
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha described the initiative as a vital tool for strengthening the rule of law and environmental governance. “The Hub enhances access to laws on wildlife, food security and land, empowering communities to participate effectively in conservation,” explained Mulilo. Further to that Executive Director of the KAZA Secretariat, Nyambe Nyambe said the platform sets a regional benchmark. “It will serve as a model for other countries and foster harmonisation of policies in line with KAZA’s mission,” noted Nyambe.
FAO Representative for Zambia, Suze Filipini, called the Legal Hub a cornerstone for aligning conservation and food security goals. “By bridging global expertise with local knowledge, this initiative strengthens Zambia’s leadership in promoting community-centred conservation,” said Filipini. The CIFOR-ICRAF Zambia Country Coordinator, Maimbo Malesu, also noted that the Hub marks a transformative step for conservation governance. He said, “By making legal frameworks more accessible, we are empowering communities, policymakers and practitioners to ensure that conservation supports livelihoods.”
In concluding, the Director of National Parks and Wildlife, Dominic Chiinda welcomed the Hub as a timely tool for improving enforcement and transparency. “Communities, practitioners and policymakers will now be better equipped to protect Zambia’s natural heritage,” said Chiinda. The launch reinforces Zambia’s commitment to balancing conservation with community development, ensuring that natural wealth continues to serve future generations.
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