Present activities of WECSZEnvironmental Educational ProgrammesThe Society has an active and extensive environmental education programme utilising both print and electronic media. This involves the production and distribution of six issues of the Chongololo and Chipembele magazines plus additional Club Leader Guides each year. To learn more about the Chongololo and Conservation Clubs please click here. In addition to this is the broadcast of a weekly environmental education programme, Chongololo Club of the Air, at 12.45hrs on ZNBC Radio 2 every Sundayof the week. As well as Environmental Notes by Wart Hog, in the Sunday Times of Zambia Newspaper and the organisation of seminars for environmental educators from schools and other relevant organisations. International Co-operationOur involvement with international organisations has allowed us to take part in the Transborder Natural Resource Management (TBNRM) initiative in conjunction with the World Conservation Union (IUCN). We are also involved in the production of educational materials about household hazardous products, being given support by the GreenCom Project of USAID. National Initiatives |
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| Co-operation with national agencies is also allowing the Society to support initiatives in wildlife protection, research, and community based natural resource management. These agencies include the Zambia Wildlife Authority, Honorary Wildlife Police Officers Association, the Zambian Ornithological Society and Sitatunga Research. | |
As a tool for environmental education and rehabilitation, the Society facilitates tree planting projects, promotes local tourism through visits to National Parks and promotes wetland awareness with the Forestry Department and the Convention on Wetlands.
At a policy level, the Society is a member of the steering committee of the Zambia Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan, the Zambia Wetlands Strategy and Action Plan, the Zambia Wildlife Authority, the National Committee of the World Conservation Union, the Board of the Environmental Council of Zambia and is a member of the Natural Resource Forum and the Zambian Environmental Conservation Fund.
In line with current trends the Society promotes ecotourism through a number of wildlife camps including Chinzombo Wildlife Camp on South Luangwa National Park, Kafwala and David Shepard Camp in Kafue Natioanl Park and Chembe Bird Sanctuary in the Copperbelt. For more information on camps, click here.
Membership PromotionAs a membership organisation, it is desirable that the Society continuously increases its members and becomes a popular movement for mobilising public support for the environment It is extremely important that the Society administers and services its members. This involves the production and distribution of the Society Newsletter for members, coordinating Branches and their activities, keeping the membership database updated, running the Society library at the National Office and arranging activities and functions for members. |
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The Society is targeting corporate, family, single, student and international members with encouragement for the formation of branches. Branches are local collections of not less than 12 Society members. Currently there are branches in Chipata, Livingstone, Kabwe, Ndola, Kitwe and Luanshya. Contact details of these Branches can be found by clicking here. If you are interested in joining the Society, membership information can be found by clicking here. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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Future activities of WECSZ In the last few years the Society has experienced difficulties in maintaining its National Office well managed and hence has been operating with essential service only. The situation has improved recently. We have now a full time Programme Coordinator, an Organisational Advisor and 5 volunteers.
AGM 2005 |
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The Executive Committee of WECSZ is calling all members and non members for an AGM on the 7th of May 2005. At this AGM a new Executive Committee will be elected and with a new Executive Committee in place the Society anticipate returning to full effectiveness. |
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New Environmental Education Programme
The Environmental Education (EE) Programme of WECSZ has been running more or less unchanged since 1953. In 2002/2003, with considerable support from the German Development Service (DED), a new framework for the Environmental Education Programme was developed through various workshops and consultations with different stakeholders and the users of the EE Programme.
In the near future the process of implementing this framework will be initiated, which involves creating an up-to-date format and logo identity, producing new scripts for the Chongololo and Conservation magazines and the radio programme, the Chongololo Club of the Air.
This process is expected to start in May 2005. The first two modules of the new EE Programme should be ready in 2006.
Conservation Activities
The National Office is planning to undertake different conservation activities, such as taking children and teachers/club leaders on educational tours to national parks. The extent of these conservation activities does though depend on the available funding.
