After more than three years of program implementation, Gonarezhou legacy landscape achieved considerable progress in advancing fundamental environmental and social action plan (ESAP) measures and enhancing provisions for environmental and social safeguards. As of July 2025, 73% of the foreseen priority ESAP measures have been implemented, 18% are well underway, 5% have been initiated, and 5% have not yet been started. The program had also identified some longer term ESAP measures of which more than 60% are also implemented or well in progress. The Trust has successfully obtained all required signatures for officialization of the new General Management Plan, which marks a significant milestone.
Access restriction mitigation & livelihood support
- Initiated the development of a process framework as part of an integrated land-use and social and environmental resilience planning process.
- Ongoing development of an Integrated Land Use and Environment Management Plan (ILUEMP), also addressing boundary conflicts and vulnerable groups.
- Standard operation procedures for accessing cultural sites were developed based on participatory cultural heritage mapping. Communities have been engaged for further mapping of sites within the park.
- Livelihood schemes developed, including community conservation banking (CoCoBa), small-scale chilli outgrower schemes and aquaponic farming with the potential to upscale to larger Agri-hubs for improved food sustainability and women and youth empowerment.
Security management & law enforcement
- External risk assessment undertaken with special reference to law enforcement department.
- Ranger refresher and leadership trainings include topics related to human rights, appropriate use of force and sensitization on gender-based violence.
- Law enforcement standard operation procedures reviewed, and ranger code of conduct updated.
- Joint security protocol spelling out roles, responsibilities and procedures with other national law enforcement agencies developed.
- The ranger force participated in Mpfhuka community engagement and assisted e.g. the kraal reinforcement project to build a positive role model within local communities.
- A female ranger recruitment was advanced resulting in the deployment of 7 female rangers. The team has been awarded the first prize in the Wildlife Ranger Challenge in the 21 km run and situp challenge under the female’s category.
Grievance mechanism
- A grievance mechanism action plan was developed including a toll-free line and assuring for gender-sensitivity in the mechanism’s channels.
- The grievance mechanism was widely publicized in the form of a community road show.
- A confidential email system for recording grievances of staff has been developed at headquarter level.
- Training of selected staff members on trauma counselling to be the first line of assistance to staff members seeking counselling services.
Stakeholder engagement
- Traditional Mpfhuka (community dialogue) and annual general meeting (Huvo) facilitated by the program to prompt grass-root discussion and evaluation of the status of the environment and livelihoods in communal areas surrounding Gonarezhou, and to develop joint action plans that addresses critical issues.
- Reviewed stakeholder identification and engagement as part of the renewed General Management Plan (GMP).
- Development of a community stakeholder engagement plan, which is currently underway following the renewal of the strategic plan.
- Training provided for the community department on conflict resolution, negotiation and leadership.
Human-wildlife coexistence
- ‘Twela’ (Compassion) agreement with Chiredzi Rural District Council achieved, which will be the blueprint for future collaborative actions that will be taken to alleviate the costs for communities living with wildlife on their land.
- Joint human-wildlife conflict strategy with Chiredzi and Chipinge Rural District Councils developed, including kraaling and herding campaigns.
Biodiversity conservation
- Habitat and elephant population studies initiated and ongoing in corridor areas towards Mozambique.
- Extensive consultations with stakeholders to discuss formation of conservancy for game farms bordering Gonarezhou in collaboration with ANAC (National Administration for the Conservation Areas) in Mozambique.
- Freshwater ecosystem assessment with Gonarezhou National Park initiated.