Since 2018, a simple yet impactful initiative in Zimbabwe’s Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) has been strengthening ties between conservation and community. For years, rural communities surrounding GNP faced challenges accessing natural resources, particularly women who risked arrest for gathering wild vegetables. But a resource-sharing project changed that. 

Through a partnership between the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust and local authorities, the Mahenye community now legally harvests Bangala, a nutrient-rich wild vegetable, from the park. This seasonal plant has become a vital food source, especially for vulnerable households who faced challenges with water resources and limited effectiveness of nutritional gardens.  

Today, around 80 families benefit annually, with priority given to single mothers and child-headed households. More than just food security, the initiative has fostered trust between the park and its neighbors—proving that conservation and community can thrive together.