Stakeholders’ perspectives on the effectiveness of the elephant management plan in north west Matebeleland region from 2021 to 2023
- Author
- Mlauzi, Tanyaradzwa M.
- Title
- Stakeholders’ perspectives on the effectiveness of the elephant management plan in north west Matebeleland region from 2021 to 2023
- Abstract
- Sustainably coexisting with animals is crucial for life on Earth, but it can be difficult, especially when huge mammals are involved, and many human-wildlife conflicts occur. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority introduced an Elephant Management plan to reduce these conflicts. However, the effectiveness of this plan is not well known. This study investigates the opinions of stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of the Elephant Management Plan in Zimbabwe's North West Matebeleland region between 2021 and 2023. To comprehend the complex environmental and socioeconomic concerns affecting elephant conservation today, this study utilised a critical social theory. It emphasises the need for an efficient and inclusive management plan in light of the growing elephant population and the associated problems of human-elephant conflict. Structured questionnaires (n=86) were used to gather data from various stakeholders, including NGOs, government representatives, and travel agencies. Significant differences in opinions on the EMP's effectiveness are found in the analysis, especially concerning implementation tactics and stakeholder engagement. Results show that collaboration strengthens conservation efforts, as evidenced by the strong correlation between stakeholder engagement and conservation capability. Despite the reasonable overall satisfaction ratings, the results also show significant stakeholder awareness and communication gaps. The study emphasizes the need for more cooperation, transparency, and adaptive management frameworks to improve conservation outcomes.
- Date
- June 2025
- Publisher
- BUSE
- Keywords
- Elephant Management Plan
- Human-Elephant conflict
- Conservation strategies
- Supervisor
- Dr. A. Mureva
- Item sets
- Department of Natural Resources
