For people, animals and the environment
In addition to hosting chimpanzees, protecting and managing Chimfunshi's 10,000 hectares of land is an important part of CWOT's holistic approach.
The ecological and economic importance of the Chimfunshi area holds enormous potential. Its unique location in the Miombo Forest Area and on the headwaters of the Kafue River commit to the protection and sustainability of these all-important resources.
Chimfunshi works closely with the surrounding communities to promote environmental education and create sustainable sources of income.
Miombo Forest Area
Chimfunshi protects over 4,200 hectares of pristine Miombo forest, one of the largest contiguous ecosystems in Africa, which is highly biodiverse and essential to the regional climate. The area is home to numerous mammals, birds and reptiles, including antelopes, hyenas and various primate species.
The forest is the region's most important natural resource. Chimfunshi's miombo forest provides the local population with a rich harvest of natural resources.
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It purifies water and air, sequesters carbon in the fight against climate change, provides food and life-saving medicines, and improves well-being. Through targeted conservation measures, sustainable land use and cooperation with local communities, the forest is conserved for the long term, deforestation is reduced and natural regeneration is encouraged.
Kafue River
The Kafue River forms the natural boundary of Chimfunshi and is a vital source of water for animals, plants and people in the region. The Kafue, on which you can also take boat trips, flows for kilometres along the northern border of Chimfunshi and has given the area its name: Chimfunshi means ‘wet basin’ in Bemba, one of the Zambian national languages. An apt name for our area, which is transformed into a huge wetland every year during the rainy season.
Chimfunshi is committed to the protection and conservation of the region's immensely important water and wetland resources. Through educational work and conservation measures, the organisation tries to prevent overfishing, illegal fishing and destructive fishing methods in order to prevent the extinction of important fish and bird species.
Shoreline landscapes, which are not only ecologically valuable but also vital for the survival of many wild animals, are also included in the conservation measures.
