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ALBERT
AGAINST LION BREEDING
AND ECOLOGICAL RE-INTRODUCTION TOURISM
A CON-CONSERVATION CAUSE?
THE ZAMBIA EXPANSION
Latest News
ALERT import lions to Zambia - from South Africa! (Nov 2008)
Latest news from the ALERT Facebook site is that 10 lion cubs have been imported into Livingstone, Zambia, for use in its expanded 'Walking with Lions' project. The new location, which has been developed with facilities and extensively fenced, lies within a supposedly protected National Park - the Mosi-oa-Tunya NP - and is also part of the Victoria Falls UNESCO World Heritage Site. We believe ALERTs actions threaten the long-term status of the land as part of the national park, and also threatens the listing of the whole area as a World Heritage Site (see The Independent - Victoria Falls 'at risk' - UN Warns).
This is also two more lions than were previously claimed as necessary in the project's Environmental Impact Assessment, and again raises questions over the actions of the organisation. The Livingstone project will be accepting paying volunteers from the 1st January 2009.
It appears all the cubs come from a breeding facility in Free State, South Africa, raising concerns over their suitability for use in the 'Walking with Lions' interactive experience and also ALERTs captive breeding and 'reintroduction' programme, as well as reaffirming Antelope Park's and ALERTs links to suspected canned hunting breeding facilities in South Africa. Presumably the project has taken the decision use these lion cubs to short-cut the delay in getting export permits for its lions from Zimbabwe.
The project is still waiting authorisation to export a group of Stage Two lions to the site from their captive centre at Antelope Park - authorisation which is being delayed by the political problems Zimbabwe is currently experiencing. Lets hope they have more luck with this release than with their first Stage Two release, in Zimbabwe, which resulted in the death of two lionesses.
Green light in Zambia for lion exploitation (June 2008)
Despite huge local opposition, and substantial conservation and environmental evidence against the merits of their project, ALERT Lion Encounter have been given the go-ahead to establish their lion walking product in Livingstone, Zambia. Already a copy-cat operation has established itself, without the necessary permits or paperwork, and using lions from a dubious source associated with canned hunting.
Here's the text of David Youldon's posting on their Facebook group:
"Back in 2004 an application was made to ZAWA, the Zambian Wildlife Authority and the Zambian Forestry Commission to lease land in the Dambwa Forest outside Livingstone. A public meeting was held on 19th October 2005 to advise local communities about our plans.
On 10th August 2006 Andrew Conolly, founder and Chairman of ALERT flew to Livingstone to sign that lease agreement giving 15,000 acres of the Forest to ALERT. Our intention is to build three release sites; two stage 2 sites (500 & 1500 acres) and a stage 3 (10,000 acres). We understand that the 18 months between application and approval is the fastest confirmation of a conservation program in Zambia’s history. A Forest Concession Agreement was subsequently approved.
On 17 May 2007 a scoping meeting was held with stakeholders in advance of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to ascertain concerns about the project that should be considered within the assessment.
The EIA was completed and submitted to the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) on 25th February 2008. As part of their considerations a second public hearing was held by ECZ on 12th April 2008.
ECZ made their decision regarding the proposed ALERT program in the Dambwa Forest on 30th May 2008, and here is what they said….
“The ECZ has since reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and based on the information provided by yourselves and from written and verbal statements by interested and affected parties and our site verification inspection findings, we have approved your project proposal.”
Our road map for how we proceed from this point will be reviewed and we will keep you updated as our plans to develop our release sites in Zambia are implemented over the coming months."
Call for comments and invitation to public meeting (April 2008)
12 April 2008:
ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL OF ZAMBIA
CALL FOR COMMENTS AND INVITATION TO A PUBLIC HEARING
REVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REPORT
SUBMITTED BY AFRICAN LION & ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH TRUST (ALERT) FOR THE PROPOSED DAMBWA FOREST No.22 JOINT MANAGEMENT AREA LION REHABILITATION PROJECT.
African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) is proposing to resuscitate Dambwa Forest No.22 and re-stock the Forestry area with Lions. The forest is adjacent to the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone.
The overall objective of the project is to reverse the declining trends in African Lion populations through a breeding and release into the wild program. The program will aim at producing 8 lion cubs per year that will be subjected to a controlled breeding programme to produce cubs raised in the natural ecosystem.
This notice therefore, serves to inform members of the general public, interested and affected parties that an Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Dambwa Forest Joint Management Area Lion Rehabilitation Project has been received by the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) for review, in line with the provisions of the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act Number 12 of 1990 as read with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations; SI. No. 28, of 1997 and is available for scrutiny at the following places:
Livingstone City Council, Civic Centre;
Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) Offices, in Livingstone;
Environmental Council Of Zambia – Southern Regional Office in Livingstone;
Environmental Council Of Zambia Information Documentation Centre (IDC) in Lusaka.
The report will be available for scrutiny during office hours from 08:00 hours to 13:00 hours and 14:00hours to 17:00 hours. Interested and affected parties may send their written submissions to the undersigned. The deadline for submission of comments is 23rd April, 2008.
This notice also serves to invite members of the general public to a public hearing for the African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT) to be held on 12th April 2008 at David Livingstone Training College at 14:00hours.
Chama Mwansa Nyendwa
Communications Officer
Environmental Council of Zambia
P. O. Box 35131
LUSAKA
Phone (w): +260 211 254023
Mobile: +260 955 995426
Email: [email protected]
www.necz.org.zm
Background Information
The questions raised over the ALERT project also have serious implications for their planned expansion into Zambia, which is in full progress at the moment, despite a supposed moratorium on developments within the UNESCO World Heritage Site (until a development plan for the area has been agreed and implemented). The following is taken from the public announcement of a public scoping meeting in Livingstone:
"The African Lion & Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), supported by African Encounter, under the trading name of Lion Encounter (Zambia) Limited is bringing a lion rehabilitation & release into the wild program to Zambia. The program has been operating in Gweru, in Zimbabwe, since 1999 and in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, since 2005. We are now planning to extend our operations to Livingstone, Zambia."
"ALERT has secured a Forest Concession Agreement (FCA) on a section of the Dambwa Forest from the Zambian Government. Lion Encounter (Zambia) Limited has secured a Tourism Concession Agreement (TCA) with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA)."
"The operation will be run from a site within the Mosi O Tunya National Park for stage one (see attached information sheet) and within the Dambwa Forest for stages two and three." (ENVSOL Consultants, quoted from LIONSCAM! Livingstone Project.)
There is major local controversy over the way ALERT have tried to expand their project into Zambia, obtaining licenses for the import of 19 lions into Zambia before the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for the donor sites was complete, against local environmental procedure. Their actions are the latest in a long line of developments on the Zambian side which directly threaten the status of the whole area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Are these the actions of a conservation minded and environmentally aware organisation?
Here is a summary of the situation on the proposed development of the ALERT Livingstone Lion Project, written by Ian Manning, and published in Safaritalk (and copied here with thanks!):
"This latest development, one already approved by the Zambian Wildlife Authority and the Forestry Department, but not yet the Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ), the National Heritage Commission, or UNESCO - who oversee the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, is to import captive-bred lion from neighbouring Zimbabwe, to rear them in the Dambwa Forest on the outskirts of Livingstone, walk them with tourists in the adjoining Mosi oa Tunya National Park... All that is now required is for the ECZ to approve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out by the developers and for the decision not to be overturned by the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources.
The Environmental issues apart, my concern is with the disregard for due process. In the lion project’s case, ZAWA issued the lion project (ALERT) an import permit for 19 lion before the EIA for the [receiving] site was approved, and the Forestry Department also entered into an agreement with them over the use of the Dambwa Forest, both agreements requiring an EIA in accordance with the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act (Cap 204 of the Laws of Zambia), Regulation 3 (1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997.
So, given the lack of due process and accountability, what is UNESCO doing about their area of responsibility? And is the World Bank, supposedly funding the re-habilitation of Mosi and Livingstone’s environs bringing to bear some conditionality?”
I P A Manning (environmental writer and campaigner).
[Edited and posted here with the agreement of I P A Manning. The full article can be seen at Safaritalk].
The Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) issued the tourism concession agreement on October 27th, 2006 for ALERT to commence stage one lion walks within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The import permit was issued by ZAWA on March 7th, 2007, and the project awaits its Zimbabwe export permits [and which from mid 2008 have been aparently delayed by the political situation affecting Zimbabwe - hence their decision to import lions from a captive breeder in South Africa - see latest news above].
The ALERT Information Pack (August 2007) states "We have already built one enclosure" in relation to the Dambwa Forest site. How could have this be so before the EIA had been published and reviewed?
The relevant authorities in Zambia must be made fully aware of the serious doubts over the conservation value of this project before their association with it damages not only their international reputation as a tourist destination, but also threatens the very status of the Victoria Falls UNESCO World Heritage Site and the possibly the future of their natural wild lion populations as well.
Further Information
Ian Manning goes on to state (edited with approval):
"This project has now expanded into Zambia – despite not yet having the permission of the Environmental Council of Zambia to operate in the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the adjoining Dambwa Forest Reserve, both part of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, and recently the front for a major battle between developers and a small group of people who are determined to protect the integrity of the area. (See Victoria Falls Heritage Blogspot).
There has been much direct criticism of Zambia and Zimbabwe’s management of the UNESCO designated site (see UNESCO details), and this is the latest in a long line of dubious developments within the site and which directly threaten its UNESCO status.
Sadly, once again, the Zambian Government has followed the money and not the principle: the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) having already issued the import permits for 19 lion from Zimbabwe, and the Department of Forestry – already the subject of an investigation for their illegal alienation of at least one National Forest (see Zambia Forests Blogspot) have issued the lion walkers a lease. And the Environmental Council Zambia (ECZ) is only now considering the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
An investigation is required of the part ZAWA has played in allowing for the importation of this significant number of lions, without the necessary EIA being conducted as required by ECZ.
There is continuing silence from the Forestry Department over the license they issued to the Lion Project for the use of the Dambwa Forest Reserve. Representations will be made to Transparency International Zambia on the illegal alienation of National Forests so that prosecutions by the Anti Corruption Commission may follow."
David Youldon defends the community value of the ALERT project, stating:
"We are already doing a huge amount for the local communities within Livingstone through our eco-tourism program working in a number of schools, medical clinics, orphanages, home help programs and with the elephant pepper project. We have already started our community program in advance of bringing the lions and have invested large amounts of money in building new classrooms, providing medical supplies, teaching aids etc etc. Our next plan is to extend our community programs to assist the communities specifically surrounding Dambwa" (LIONSCAM! Lion Project Give Their Side).
We note the interesting use of the word 'invest' - since when does a charity 'invest' in developing community projects?
The end of the 'Big Game'?
ALERT are also discussing plans to develop the project beyond Zimbabwe and Zambia - David Youldon, Chief Operating Officer for ALERT has stated that "We already have significant interest from governments for National Parks and private reserves across the continent from the Ivory Coast to Mozambique for... release sites." (Uganda and Malawi are also mentioned in other documents) and "right now we have more offers for release areas than we can possibly fill" .
Will we soon see a future with the African lion all but extinct in the wild? Populations have crashed at an alarming rate, leading to calls for review of its 'vulnerable' status by the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources/World Conservation Union) Red List. However the powerful politics and economics of the trophy hunting industry will make it very difficult to reclassify the lion as 'endangered' before it is too late. With the development of this project we see the ugly possibility of semi-tame, semi-captive lions, bred for lion walking and sold on to private safari operators - kept in fenced private safari concessions for commercial tourism and hunting - and the expansion of the much criticised South African fenced model of game management spreading across Africa. With the expansion of this project begins the domestication and privatisation of the African lion. And an Africa with all its big game tamed behind fences and protected by security guards grows ever nearer reality.
This is something which David Youldon himself appears not to appreciate (again quoted from Facebook discussions which he then deleted):
"We do not adhere to any notion that Africa should be segmented off into small private reserves – this is not in the interest of the wildlife species of Africa who need large spaces and natural gene flow."
Yet this is exactly what the ALERT programme is promoting - small, fenced private reserves, with captive bred, human-raised lions which will never be able to roam free in the wild.
Can you help?If you have any comments, advice or information which can help us in our work to highlight the issues relating to the ALERT project, please email - emailquentinjones[at]yahoo.co.uk
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