Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and the Frankfurt Zoological Society began a two-day conference in Harare on Tuesday to examine elephant conservation and human-wildlife conflicts. Hugo van der Westhuizen from FZS said the gathering aims to foster evidence-based discussion about ecosystem management. The organizations have partnered for nearly two decades to reduce poaching and study ecological changes in Gonarezhou National Park.
Van der Westhuizen said carrying capacity fluctuates with rainfall and resource availability rather than remaining fixed. The creation of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park expanded the habitat range across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa under a 2002 treaty. Conference organizers plan to address contentious topics, such as elephant culling, using scientific data and community input. The event may establish a permanent forum for regional conservation cooperation among stakeholders and policymakers.
Van der Westhuizen said carrying capacity fluctuates with rainfall and resource availability rather than remaining fixed. The creation of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park expanded the habitat range across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa under a 2002 treaty. Conference organizers plan to address contentious topics, such as elephant culling, using scientific data and community input. The event may establish a permanent forum for regional conservation cooperation among stakeholders and policymakers.
