Zambia Launches Innovative Legal Hub to Strengthen Wildlife Conservation and Food Security
14 October 2025, Zambia: The Government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Tourism, has officially launched the publicly-accessible online, the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme Legal Hub.
This milestone was achieved in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF). It is mainly funded in Zambia by the European Union.
The Legal Hub provides a centralized and user-friendly platform for accessing Zambia’s laws and regulations related to wildlife management, land tenure, food safety, forestry, animal health and production, and ecotourism. It was validated by the Government of Zambia in April 2023 and developed using five legal diagnostic tools that mapped, analysed, and assessed the legal framework for sustainable wildlife management, customary law, and enforcement mechanisms.
By improving access to legal information and supporting evidence-based reforms, the Zambia SWM Programme Legal Hub aims to create an enabling environment for community-led conservation. One example is the Mize Community Conservancy model in Southern Zambia, which promotes equitable benefits from wildlife recovery and management and is being directly supported by the SWM Programme.
The Legal Hub is expected to inform future legal and policy reforms, helping balance biodiversity conservation with food security and community livelihoods. It will serve as a resource for policymakers, communities, researchers, and practitioners working to ensure that Zambia’s wildlife and natural resources are managed sustainably for generations to come.
Hon. Rodney Sikumba, Minister of Tourism, said: “The launch of the SWM Programme Legal Hub is a proud moment for Zambia. It reflects our government’s determination to strengthen governance in the wildlife sector 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 our biodiversity, secure food resources, and advance sustainable tourism. This initiative builds on Zambia’s commitment to balancing development with conservation, ensuring that natural wealth continues to serve generations to come.”
Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, State Counsel said: “The launch of the SWM Programme Legal Hub is a milestone in strengthening the rule of law and environmental governance. He reaffirmed that the Government’s commitment, under President Hakainde Hichilema, is to ensure that Zambia’s wildlife is managed sustainably, legally, and for the benefit of all citizens. He noted that the Legal Hub, centered on the Zambia Wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015, enhances access to laws on wildlife, food security and land, empowering communities and institutions to participate effectively in conservation. The Hub embodies Zambia’s resolve to protect its natural heritage while promoting sustainable development and equitable livelihoods for present and future generations.”
Dr. Nyambe Nyambe, KAZA Secretariat, added: “The KAZA Secretariat congratulates Zambia on the launch of this groundbreaking Legal Hub, which will serve as a model for other countries in the region. The legal hub will be key to fostering harmonisation of policies , strategies and practices in line with the KAZA mission. By linking conservation, food security, and community rights, the Hub reinforces the principles of transboundary cooperation that are at the heart of KAZA. Accessible legal frameworks will enable communities to participate more meaningfully in conservation and benefit fairly from wildlife resources. This initiative shows how regional and national partnerships can deliver lasting change for people, wildlife, and ecosystems.”
Ms. Suze Filipini, FAO Representative for Zambia, said: “This Legal Hub represents a cornerstone in Zambia’s efforts to align food security and conservation objectives. FAO is proud to support a platform that makes legal frameworks accessible and actionable for policymakers, practitioners, and communities. The Hub will help address challenges such as food safety, land tenure, and wildlife management, all critical for building resilient food systems. By bridging global expertise with local knowledge, this initiative strengthens Zambia’s leadership in promoting community-centered conservation and sustainable development, in line with the global goals.”
Eng. Maimbo Malesu, CIFOR-ICRAF Zambia Country Coordinator, said: “The launch of the Legal Hub marks a transformative step in Zambia’s journey toward sustainable wildlife management. By making legal frameworks more accessible, we are equipping communities, policymakers, and practitioners with the tools they need to strengthen governance and ensure that conservation goes hand in hand with improved livelihoods. At CIFOR-ICRAF, we believe that communities must be at the center of conservation. This initiative demonstrates how science, policy, and local knowledge can come together to restore ecosystems, secure food, and create opportunities for future generations.”
Mr. Dominic Chiinda, Director of National Parks and Wildlife, said: “The Department of National Parks and Wildlife welcomes the launch of the SWM Programme Legal Hub as a timely intervention to strengthen enforcement and legal compliance across the sector. By consolidating and simplifying access to critical laws, this Hub will not only enhance transparency but also improve our ability to protect Zambia’s natural heritage. Communities, practitioners, and policymakers will now be better equipped to play their roles in wildlife conservation. Together, we can ensure sustainable management that secures wildlife populations and supports the livelihoods that depend on them.”
The launch underscores Zambia’s commitment to strengthening governance in the wildlife sector and ensuring communities benefit from sustainable management practices.
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