quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
So, unless I'm reading this wrong, its the end of Zambia as a wild, unfenced hunting area?

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
No, Sept 2011!!!! I got in under the wire, it appears. This is not good news though. They seem to have adopted the Tanzanian mindset, assuming there is more money out there for them, if they shot 100% of quota and subdivided the big blocks up. The only reason Im spending a nickel in Zambia is that they have the big blocks of open wild area. This is a shame. Glad Im fortunate enough to see it as it is now...

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
I've already started negotations with my "Camera-lady."

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Nderobo:
So, unless I'm reading this wrong, its the end of Zambia as a wild, unfenced hunting area?

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
Seriously? How in the world would one fence in the concessions along the Luangwa? Such as the Lower Lupande where I spent 18-days, there is the river which gets quite low during the dry season, the dirt track running parallel, then a dozen clicks or so away the escarpment. There are villages interspersed throughout the hunting area. You cannot fence the river, and if you put a lion in there it will quickly disappear, as will other game. And what about animals migrating in/out from the National Park? Where will the overflow animals go? Do you fence in the people too, or relocate them and fence them out? They are going to need one heck of a lot of fence. What about the current lease holders, and if they get their agreements changed yet again, how would one ever feel comfortable that Zambia will leave them alone for “35 – 40 years”?

Personally I like the idea that Zambia has both private game ranching and open GMA’s to choose from.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
most are under utilized.

quote:

Originally posted by maki:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
most are under utilized.

Could you expand upon that please? Under utilized how? No one with the brains to gain a concession is going to leave significant unused quota at the end of the year. IIRC, Zambia's concession holders have to pay the trophy fees for a defined percentage of their quota whether the animals are taken or not. Furthermore, if the concessions really could sustain higher quotas, ZAWA, the concession holders and local communities would all be working to raise them.

On the surface of it, it is hard to see how concession subdivision and possible fencing helps conservation. The smaller concession would be easier to police I suppose. Other than that, subdivision would allow ZAWA to collect incrementally more fees. Probably not worth effort for the small amount of money raised. Subdividing concessions but keeping the quota the same, effectively doubling the quota, has been done before and seems like the only way this scheme raises meaningful money for Zambia. Except in areas where poaching is currently almost catastrophic, it is probably not sustainable without fencing and stocking.

Fencing is a sign of defeat. For a hundred odd years, the mainstream of hunting has been filled with the hunter-conservationist. Conservation is not just about maintaing the animals, but the wild places where they live. Fair chase is not the goal, but the rock bottom minimum. Unless the fenced area is huge (e.g. Save), the sustainable, wild ecosystem side of the consevation equation is compromised to some varying degree. I think that is why the topic brings out such strong emotions. Many hunter-conservattionists are uncomfortable with it, even if they understand and support the need in some cases and can't explain rationally why it puts them off.

I'm not sure the above is as coherent as I'd have liked, but I have a toddler hanging on me and have to go without actually proof reading it.

Cheers,
Dean

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
And lets all remember one very important point. Usually, high-fences in Africa are NOT solely in place to keep the game in, its also to keep the people out!

I do like the Private management/control.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwanamich:
Andrew,
If law enforcement of wildlife will be under the initiative and control of the private sector, is that "power" (power of arrest and law enforcement) delegated to the Private Sector officially? In other words, will anti-poaching teams of any gibven operator be allowed to conduct law enforcement without the presence of a Government wildlife officer?

I would be very interested in knowing the official delegation of duties and responsabilities specific to this.

Thx

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
for example the Lunga Luswishi concession is 13,000 km2 and we probably intensively hunt 10% of it.