Musekese Conservation History 

Established in 2018 by the owners of Musekese Camp, Musekese Conservation began its work in the Musekese-Lumbeya sector of Kafue National Park, supporting Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) with patrol teams, logistics, and ecological monitoring. Following the 2022 co-management agreement between African Parks and the Zambian Government, forming Greater Kafue Landscapes Ltd (GKLL), Musekese Conservation was instructed to withdraw its law enforcement support from inside the National Park. All personnel were retained and redeployed to the Mumbwa GMA, where pressures from encroachment, charcoal production, and habitat loss are most severe. A successful first year led to further expansion into the Kasonso-Busanga GMA. 

Strengthening Conservation Across GMAs Where Wildlife and Communities Coexist

Musekese Conservation works in GMAs, dynamic landscapes where people and wildlife coexist. 

GMAs are dynamic conservation landscapes where regulated human activity is permitted, including settlement, farming, and sustainable natural resource use. They function as ecological buffers and vital wildlife corridors, reducing pressure on National Parks. GMAs are co-managed by Community Resource Boards (CRBs), traditional leaders, and conservation organisations, allowing local communities to participate in and benefit from conservation.

 

Musekese Conservation manages to safeguard vast landscapes within those areas through significant logistical support, data-driven action, community engagement, and inclusive partnerships. 

Protecting GMA Landscapes Through Resource protection Enforcement, Wildlife Research, and Community Partnerships

The team acts on the following pillars: 

Resource Protection 

Primary threats in the GMAs include:

• Illegal encroachment and unplanned settlements 

• Deforestation and charcoal production

• KAZA corridor disruption 

• Uncontrolled fires 

Musekese Conservation maintains a visible presence through trained community scouts and a community engagement officer who works closely with traditional leaders and CRBs. Satellite mapping and EarthRanger technology allow targeted interventions, while real-time aerial surveillance from GKLL strengthens detection and response. 

These combined efforts resulted in more than a 50% reduction in deforestation in Mumbwa GMA within the first year, a result later replicated in Kasonso-Busanga GMA. 

Wildlife Research 

Research activities are centred in the Musekese-Lumbeya area inside Kafue National Park, focusing on large carnivores ( hyenas, wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, and leopards), to understand population trends and the impact of conservation interventions. 

Methods include:

• Patrol-based monitoring

• Collaring and intensive monitoring 

• Camera traps, Search & Encounter surveys

• Individual identification

• Citizen science programmes 

Recent findings indicate a gradual recovery of large carnivore populations across the landscape following sustained protection efforts. Lion and leopard populations show positive trends. Wild dogs and cheetahs continue to face elevated risks due to their large ranging movements, including exposure to snaring and road-related mortality. 

This ongoing monitoring allows conservation teams to respond more rapidly to threats and high-risk areas. Overall, the data reflects encouraging progress while recognising the time required for full ecosystem recovery.

Community Engagement 

The aim is to establish programmes that shift mindsets towards valuing the landscape as protected and beneficial. This requires ensuring that communities directly benefit from conservation. 

With the support of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other partners, Musekese Conservation works on conservation partnership structures, community governance, conservation dividends, emerging revenue opportunities such as biodiversity credits, and sustainable tourism. 

Engagement takes place through CRBs, VAGs (Village Action Groups), traditional leaders, and community meetings, addressing issues including human-wildlife conflict and GMA encroachment. 

Successful initiatives include: 

• Wildlife education and National Park visits for schoolchildren

• Sports tournaments 

• Participation in the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Challenge

• Women's leadership and participation within resource-protection teams 

Musekese Conservation also sees potential to extend its approach into the Kafue-West Lunga Wildlife Corridor, a critical ecological link threatened by encroachment and illegal logging.