DAY FOUR
PARK ZONING
Guidelines
Below is a summary of the guidelines given:
Management zoning should: -
- take into account already identified issues, protected area purpose and significance, exceptional resource values and protected area management objective
- identify the location or resources that need the most management and protection
- be based on the identification of the appropriate range of visitor experiences and resource conditions that could exist
- include rationale for why the zones were established
- consider the capability of land to support different land uses, development suitability of different areas, identify those areas sensitive to use and those that can withstand use
- be identifiable on the ground to enable field identification
- provide basis for a monitoring programme
- be used to provide management continuity over time
Guidelines were then given for five categories of zones as follows: -
1. Wilderness Preservation Zones are: -
- areas where the earth and its community of life are unaffected by man; where man is a visitor and all his activities leave no imprint;
- Areas affected primarily by the forces of nature and no noticeable imprint of man;
- Area managed to retain pristine character and undisturbed nature without permanent human habitation
- Provide the highest level of protection to extremely fragile areas and resources
- Provide a bank of resources for the future
- Areas where only limited visitor use is allowed to the extent that undisturbed nature can be maintained; and
- Areas with no private or commercial enterprise; no permanent structures; no permanent roads; no use of motor vehicles, motorboats, or other mechanical transport or motorised equipment; no commercial aircraft landings (except in emergencies involving health and safety of persons in the area).
2. Natural Preservation Zones are: -
- areas that should be managed to conserve natural resources and ecological processes
- areas that provide for appropriate visitor use and enjoyment in ways that do not adversely affect the resources and processes;
- areas where development should be limited to essential facilities and not permitted to sensitive habitats and resources
- areas where the impact of development and use should be minimized; and
- temporary zones that may be created where special management is required to restore natural conditions to areas disrupted by past or present human activity
3. Development Zones are: -
- areas managed to keep the environment as natural as possible but enable high concentration of visitor use, protected area operations and other support facilities;
- areas where mitigation measures are put in place to minimize impacts associated with proposed developments
- areas which should be restricted to the smallest area necessary to accommodate the required protected area development and use; and
- areas where protected area development facilities should be kept separate from visitor use facilities.
4. Heritage Preservation Zones are: -
- areas managed for the purpose of protection, preservation and interpreting of archaeological sites, historical sites, contemporary religious uses and other traditional use sites; and
- areas where traditional uses are allowed at certain times and seasons.
5. Special Use Zones are: -
- areas that have uses carried out by other government agencies or private interests
- areas whose administrative control over the use of land in them is either lacking or secondary to that of the other party/agency; and
- areas whose management emphasis depends on the type of special use and relationship of that area to the protected area.
Emphasizing that: -
- the essence of the management zone plan is to describe what can and cannot occur in the identified management zones
The management zone plan
- outlines the management strategies for each zone
- provides guidance on the actions to be undertaken by protected area management in order to maintain the integrity of the entire zoning scheme
- provides direction for the day-to-day operations and long-term decision-making
The plan should not attempt to maximize on the use of resources.
The Zambian approach to tourism requires low numbers of high paying tourists.
The Limits of Acceptable Use (LAU) system lays primary emphasis on the conditions desired (physical and social), rather than on the maximum amount of use and development the protected area can tolerate.
A list of tasks were identified, of which the house was informed that the following tasks had already been done by a group of ZAWA and NHCC staff after the previous day’s meeting:
1. Determine the number of zones for the park.
2. Delineate the appropriate determined management zones under 1 above
3. Suggest and determine appropriate names of the management zones delineated under 2 above.
A map of the zones proposed for the park was presented.
The following zones had been proposed:
1. Restricted Use Zone
- Zambezi River, with a 50m buffer
- Maramba River, with a yet to be defined buffer
- Gorges, with a wider buffer margin
- Islands in Zambezi River
2. Intensive Use Zone
- Sun International area
- Proposed Legacy hotels and Golf course area (minus the 50 m buffer along the rivers)
- Crocodile Farm
- Nawa Farm
- Saf Par upcoming David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Bwaato, Waterfront, etc up to Park entrance
3. Semi-wilderness Zone
- Area between Hubert Young Drive and Falls road (includes three proposed tourist development sites, including Cresta Golf View Site)
- Area between track road (parallel to Nakatindi Road) and Zambezi River from picnic site at end of Riverside Drive up to western end of park (Thorntree Lodge).
4. Wilderness Zone
- Rest of park, including north end - Nakatindi Road and north to Knight’s Drive, Zoological park, and whole of southern end of park.
Comments
1. A participant asked why the names of proposed zones did not follow the ones in the guidelines. It was explained that these were alternative names to the ones given, and that the guidelines did not have to be followed exactly.
2. A participant asked what the meaning of Restricted Use was. It was explained that this would be answered by the group dealing with this zone.
3. A participant asked what the justification for the delineation for the Intensive Use Zone was. It was explained that this area was already used a lot and therefore it should be classified as Intensive Use.
4. It was explained that some of the proposed development sites had been changed. This had occurred after the discussion on proposed zoning the evening before, and the proposed changes had already been sent to ZAWA headquarters the same night, in order to change the advertisement which was to come out in the press the following day.
5. A question was raised about the lifespan of the General Management Plan. It was explained that once it was ratified, the plan would run for 10 years, subject to review every 3 years.
6. When asked why the advertisements for development sites could not wait until the plan was in place, the facilitator explained that developments had to go ahead and could not wait for a plan.
The participants were then requested to proceed to the next steps as follows (for each zone):
1. Describe the natural resources status of the zone
2. Define the zone purpose
3. Prescribe the accessibility
4. Identify the visitor use and experience
5. Identify and list the developments or permissible developments of the zone, and
6. Determine the limits of acceptable use
Group 1
RESTRICTED USE ZONE
a) Natural Resources Status
- Islands have fragile soils, i.e. weak land mass
- Fairly intact riparian vegetation
- Fairly undisturbed aquatic life
- Steep river bank
- Fairly abundant wildlife
- Abundant water resource
- Gorges still in good natural condition
b) Purpose
- To ensure preservation of fragile soils and vegetation on the islands, while allowing minimal sustainable development or use.
- Conservation of the river catchment area
- Regulate the use of the river, falls and gorges to ensure sustainability of enhanced visitor experience
c) Accessibility
- by water transport
- by footpaths, gravel and surface roads to the river catchment area
d) Visitor use and Experience
i) Islands
- picnics
- bush dinners
ii) Zambezi River
- boating and canoeing
- sport fishing and angling
iii) Gorges
- bunji jumping
- gorge swinging
- rafting
- gorge viewing via cable cars
iv) Falls
- viewing
e) Permissible Developments
i) River
- picnic site infrastructure, i.e. waste management, bins, toilets
- boat jetties
ii) Gorges
- cable car infrastructure
iii) Falls
- visitor information centre
- trails
- litter bins
- car parking space
- vending
f) Limits of acceptable use
i) Islands
- temporal structures e.g. toilets, braai stands, etc.
- limited acceptable number of people
- limited acceptable number of jetties
- no commercial fishing
- controlled angling
ii) Falls
- controlled number of visitors
- controlled number of visitor facilities, i.e. toilets, outlets for drinking
- controlled number of vendors
- regulated access to commuter transport
iv) Gorges
- regulated number of cable cars
- regulated number of visitors
- regulated support infrastructure
Group 4
RESTRICTED USE ZONE
a) Resource Status
- islands
- animal species
- Zambezi River
- Gorges
- Critical bird species
- Victoria Falls
- Riverine forest
- Elephant corridors
Notes:
Area is a critical elephant corridor.
Breeding site for birds
Infested with Lantana camara (invasive alien plant species)
b) Purpose
- Area where strict mitigation measures should be put in place to minimise impacts associated with proposed development and activities.
c) Accessibility
- water
- helicopter
- road - dust and tarred
d) Visitor Use
- bunji
- rafting
- boating
- falls viewing
- game viewing
- gorge swing
- (etc.)
e) Developments
- existing at present - hotels, lodges, picnic sites, canoes, kayaking
f) Limits of Acceptable Use
- blend with environment
- no lights allowed
- 50 m away from river
- no permanent structures to be allowed
COMMENTS
1. Need to clarify on “no lights allowed” and “50 m from river”.
2. Need to go into more detail on limits of acceptable use.
3. A comment was raised that no one seemed to be taking notes at the meeting.
Group 2
INTENSIVE USE ZONE
a) National Resources Status
- Land - alluvial plain
- Vegetation - mopane and mixed woodland
- Animals - buffalo, elephants, hippo, grysbok, duiker, bushbuck, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, giraffe, impala, monkeys, baboons, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds
- Heritage resources - over 10 heritage sites from the middle to late stone age
- The whole zone falls within a World Heritage Site
b) Zone Purpose
- accommodation
- tourist attraction
- recreation
- heritage conservation
- scientific research
- administration
c) Access
- road - tarred and earth
d) Visitor Use and Experience
- game viewing
- bird viewing
- river viewing
- camping
- picnics
e) Permissible developments
- lodges
- bush camps
- roads
- ZAWA admin office
- Hotels
- Picnic sites
f) Limits of acceptable use
- 2 existing hotels
- Regulated number of:
o lodges
o camps
o roads
o picnic sites
o vehicles
- sewage disposal via City Council system
Group 3
INTENSITVE USE ZONE
Location
Between Maramba Cultural Village, Main Falls Road and Restricted Use Zone.
a) Natural Resources Status
- densely wooded - high regeneration
- mopane and mixed scrubland
- prevalent wildlife
- drained by Maramba River
- Riparian vegetation along river
Impacts
- poaching
- litter
- firewood collection
- invasive alien species
- sewer discharge into Maramba River
- vegetation destruction
- soil compaction
- heavy motor vehicle traffic
b) Zone Purpose
- to protect the habitat for biodiversity conservation and intensive tourism use.
c) Accessibility
- road, air
- roads need rehabilitation
d) Visitor Use and Experience
- security
- customer care
- accommodation
- diversity of activities
- signage
e) Developments
i) Existing
- Zambezi Boat Club (since 1910)
- Municipal Water Building (1947)
- African Queen (launch site)
- Batoka Sky (microlite landing site)
- Waterfront Adventure Village
- David Livingstone Safari Lodge
- Sun International – 2 hotels
- Maramba River Lodge
- Gwembe Safaris – Crocodile Park
ii) Permissible Developments
- David Livingstone Safari Lodge
- Possible Jetty on Maramba River
- Hotel (depending on EIA outcome)
f) Limits of Acceptable Use
- No other future developments must be permitted in the area except for the proposed jetty and hotel
- Bed capacity in the area should not exceed 1,000.
- Helium high flyer (balloon)
COMMENTS
1. Discussion on limit of 1,000 beds
Group 3
SEMI-WILDERNESS ZONE
2 areas identified
Semi-Wilderness Area A
1. Location
- Close to Mukuni Area
- Between Mosi-o-tunya Road and Hubert Young Drive
2. Natural Resources
- fairly well conserved
- mixed scrubland
- mostly young trees
3. Impacts
- Elephant corridor
- Hippo movements and grazing
- Domestic animals
- Firewood collection
- Wildfires
- Rail line ecological barrier
- Grazing of cattle
Semi-Wilderness Area B
1. Location
- Old Drift National Monument to Gate 3
- …
2. Natural Resources
- Vegetation: -
o Mixed scrubland
o Mopane woodland
o Grassland
o Swamp vegetation
- Animals: -
o Waterbuck
o Elephant
o Giraffe
o Warthog
o Birdlife
- Main water point found in area
3. Impacts
- Vegetation destruction by elephant
- Overgrazing
- Invasive alien species
- Domestic animal overgrazing
- Compacted grounds
- Firewood collection
- Snares
- Fires negligible
b) Zone Purpose
- To provide for wildlife conservation and management and ecotourism
c) Accessibility
- Road (good)
- Rail (good)
- Air (for emergencies)
d) Visitor Use and Experience
Activities
- game viewing
- art painting
- photographing
- security check point
- research
- walking safaris
- steam safaris
- birding safaris
- outdoor catering
Visitor Experience Challenges
- poor customer care – no interpretation centre, poor signage
- poor security – inadequate patrols
- accommodation – fairly adequate, 4 more to be constructed (1 hotel, 1 lodge & 2 camps)
e) Developments
i) Existing Developments
- Susi & Chuma Lodge
- Thorntree Lodge
- Elephant Back Rides Centre
- 2 rail sidings
- 1 picnic site
- ZESCO power line
ii) Permissible Future Developments
- 1 hotel
- 1 lodge
- 2 campsites
- 2 interpretation centres
- 1 viewing platform
f) Limits of Acceptable Use
- Lodges not to exceed 50 bed capacity each
- Camp sites not to exceed 8 beds each
- Hotel not to exceed 64 beds (proposed Golf Cresta)
Operational Guidelines
i) Fuel energy
- electricit and gas preferable
- firewood and charcoal to be prohibited
- precooked meals for picnic sites
ii) Waste management
- hotel and lodges to link into main sewer lines
- camp sites to utilise soakaways
- water to be provided by link to SWS Company or borehole
iii) Construction Design and Colour
- to blend well with the environment
Group 1
SEMI-WILDERNESS ZONE
a) Natural Resources Status
Vegetation
- fair population of trees, evenly distributed
- short grass
- good habitat for animals
Animals
- fair to good number of animals – buffalo, elephant, impala, waterbuck, kudu, monkeys, etc.
Water
- well drained
b) Purpose
- To allow for a balance between development and conservation of natural resources identified above in order to sustain the viability of natural resources.
c) Access
- Surface use
- Gravel roads
d) Visitor Use and Experience
- game drives
- walking safaris
- helicopter flights
e) Permissible Developments
- Permanent and temporal structures allowed (lodges, camps, campsites, picnic sites)
- Roads
- Artificial water provision for animals
f) Limits of Acceptable Use
- no tarred roads
- no music/entertainment centres
- no construction of buildings above tree canopies
- no extensive developments such as golf course and hotels
COMMENTS
1. Need to consider the kind of toilets allowed at picnic sites – pit latrines or flush toilets?
2. According to Environmental Health Act – soak-aways should be at least 61 m from the nearest river bank.
Group 2
WILDERNESS ZONE
a) Natural Resources
- land – steep and shallow slopes, dissected plateau, alluvial plains
- vegetation – miombo, mopane, teak, mixed woodland, grassland
- seasonal streams
- animals – at least 15 species of large mammals, small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects
- heritage resources – middle and late stone age and historical sites
b) Purpose
- tourist attraction
- conservation of natural resources
- scientific research
c) Access
- road – tarred, earth
- air – helicopters, microlight, small planes
d) Visitor Use
- game viewing
- bird viewing
- camping
- accommodation
- picnics
- helicopter rides
e) Permissible Developments
(The group found the proposed developments within the zone contradictory to the definition of a wilderness zone).
Group 4
WILDERNESS ZONE
a) Natural Resources Status
i) North West Portion
- densely populated with vegetation
- limited disturbance
- high concentration of animals
ii) Central Portion
- densely vegetated
- highly utilized
- high concentration of animals
iii) Southern Portion
- sparsely vegetated
- predominantly elephants and buffaloes
Streams
- seasonal, active only in rainy season
b) Zone Purpose
- Provide the highest level of protection to extremely fragile areas and resources
- Area where only limited visitor use is allowed, to the extent that undisturbed nature can be maintained
c) Accessibility
- By well planned roads
- North west part only by walking
d) Visitor Use
- Northern part - currently low but some sites have been allocated for development; helicopter flights predominant
- Central part – games drives, helicopter flights, walking safaris, education and religious
- South west part – helicopter flights, bush drives, lookout tree, picnics, etc.
e) Development
i) Exisiting
- Currently no development existing
ii) Permissible
- campsites
- picnic sites
- no semi-permanent structures
- development of the central zone – old staff camp
- southern portion – camp sites
f) Limits of Acceptable Use
- no bright lights – only candles and lamps
- construction should blend with environment
- soak-aways to meet standards
- minimal cutting of vegetation
- no alien plants
- no domestic animals
- no internal fencing
COMMENTS
1. There was conflict between the situation on the ground and the proposed zonation and the proposed development and usage.
2. Concerning the contradictions of proposed developments with zone guidelines given, it was explained that the descriptions of zones could be adjusted to suit the situation.
3. A participant expressed disagreement with the proposed delineation of zones and refused to be used as a rubber stamp for development. The participant was then requested to put forth a proposal for zoning the following day.
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