ZAMBIA’s wildlife conservationist, Hammerskjoeld Simwinga, is among 11 visionary, young trailblazers from around the world that have been named to the 2008 class of National Geographic Emerging Explorers.
Others include a zoologist, anthropologist, cultural storytellers, musician, HIV activist and marine.
This is according to a statement from National Geographic Society of the United States made available yesterday.
National Geographic’s Emerging Explorers’ Programme recognises and supports uniquely gifted and inspiring adventurers, scientists, photographers and storytellers making a significant contribution to world knowledge through exploration while still early in their careers.
The emerging explorers will each receive a US$10,000 award to assist with research and to aid further exploration.
National Geographic Emerging Explorers could be selected from virtually any field, from the society’s traditional arenas of anthropology, archaeology, photography, space exploration, earth sciences, mountaineering and cartography to the worlds of art, music and filmmaking.
“National Geographic’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet and our emerging explorers are outstanding adventurers whose endeavours further this mission.
We are pleased to honour these exciting new leaders who are setting out on promising careers,” National Geographic’s executive vice president for Mission Programmes, Terry Garcia, said.
Vice president, sales and marketing Tony Gomez said: “A key mission of National Geographic over the past 120 years has been to chronicle achievements of explorers.”
National Geographic’s emerging explorers are part of the Society’s Explorers Programme, which includes 13 Explorers-in-Residence and four National Geographic Fellows.
Mr Simwinga is founder and executive director of the Foundation for Wildlife and Habitat Conservation in Zambia, a non-governmental organisation working to help underprivileged rural communities living near North Luangwa National Park engaged in sustainable economic activities as alternatives to poaching.
The NGO encourages the communities to take part in wildlife and habitat conservation.
The foundation was born in July, 2007, as a result of a concern to improve the livelihoods of some of the poorest people living in the area through self-help initiatives, to enhance conservation through increased participation of local people in management of wildlife resources, and to eliminate poaching.
Mr Simwinga is the former director of the North Luangwa Wildlife Conservation and Community Development programme, which helps restore wildlife, provide alternatives to poaching and improve the life of local villagers through micro-lending, education, health programmes and women’s empowerment.
He began working in the region with the United States-funded North Luangwa Conservation Project in 1994, when local economies relied heavily on income from poaching.
The project helped villagers form wildlife clubs that used small business loans to provide basic goods, services and legal jobs as alternatives to working for poachers.
The project also assisted subsistence farmers with seed loans, transportation and technical assistance to help them grow protein-rich crops with better yields so that they did not depend on meat from wild animals.
Mr Simwinga of Mpika was last year awarded a US$125,000 Goldman Environmental Prize because of his conservation efforts.
http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=8&id=1203321500
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