MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 2010

Park Management plan for Mana Pools National Park as a World Heritage Site will maintain wilderness values and will protect and conserve the Biological diversity and Ecological processes in and around the park; and in particular the Zambezi River, the flood plain and the “Mana” pools. The park will also play its role in the Mana/Lower Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area and will contribute to the socio-economic development of the local communities and the region.

The Biodiversity Programme acknowledges that the information base for the park needs to be improved and details areas in which urgent management related research is needed. The programme also focuses on management of key habitats such as the Albida woodland and the jesse, mopane and miombo habitats. Supplemented water and fire are two management strategies that could used to achieve this management but care needs to be taken with both. A strategy for improving anti-poaching efforts is outlined and the possibility for a rhino reintroduction programme initiated. The impact of roads and river crossings on the environment is also dealt with under this programme. A monitoring programme is outlined based on the selection of a suite of conservation targets. The Tourism Programme strives to maintain the wilderness character of the park by advocating low impact camping and semi-permanent camps as the main form of accommodation. It will preserve a stretch of the Zambezi river as wilderness in which no developments will be permitted. Provision has been made to open up new, low impact accommodation facilities away from the river. An inland site will be allocated for a joint-venture community development tourism project. Activities on offer will be diversified and walking will be encouraged. Use of the park for educational trips will be promoted. Wet season motor-boating will be permitted on a trial basis. At least one site will be investigated for a community/public/private partnership but the details of how this type of operation will work still need further investigation.

Downloads

• Mana Pools Management Plan 2010