WCESC is the official environmental organisation in Zambia and
our mission is to promote public participation in caring for
Zambia.
The Society was founded in 1953 and is the oldest and most
established wildlife and environmental (non-governmental)
organisation in the country.
The Society runs amongst others,
the famous Chongololo and Conservation Clubs, providing
environmental awareness to school going children all over
Zambia.
The Society's overall objectives
are firstly, to create a strong lobbying and consultative
presence that will make meaningful progress with achieving
sensible and sustainable environmental policies. Equally
importantly we see a major role for the Society in transferring
these practices and approaches to the young – who will inherit
the results of our successes - or our oversights.
As part of its work, the Society
enjoys warm collaborative links with Government and other
environmental organisations locally and internationally.
The Society is a partner to the
World Wide Fund for nature,
WWF.
Mission
Statement
|
"The mission of the Society is to spearhead
environmental awareness at all levels of the community,
promote the wise use of natural resources and to become
the most effective independent environmental action
group in Zambia." |
 |
Please explore our website and find out how you can get involved
in caring for our natural resources.
ABOUT WECSZ
01/11/2006
To spearhead environmental awareness at all levels of the
community, promote the wise use of natural resources, and to be
the most effective independent environmental action group in
Zambia.
History
The Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ)
was founded in 1953 by concerned members of the hunting
fraternity as the Game Preservation and Hunting Association (GPHA).
In 1962 the GPHA changed its name to the Wildlife Conservation
Society of Northern Rhodesia (WCSNR), reflecting the increasing
urbanisation of its members.
In 1964 when Zambia gained independence it changed its name
again to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Zambia (WCSZ),
with the former Zambian Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda
as its first patron.
The first
Chongololo Clubs were formed in 1972 and the first Chongololo
magazines printed and distributed within the same year. This was
made possible with help from the then Ministry of Education,
World Wildlife Fund and Roan
Consolidated Mines.
Our Chongololo
programme was furthered in 1978 with the launch of the
Chongololo Club of the Air (CCOA) radio programme. This was
launched with the support of the Bata Shoe Company and Mrs. Bata
herself. The current cumulative membership of the CCOA is 70,000
making it one of the largest environmental radio clubs in
Africa.
In 1980
Conservation Clubs were launched in secondary schools. This
initiative was given further support in 1986 with the launch of
the Chipembele Magazine. Aimed at the secondary school age group
this project was made possible by support from the World Wide
Fund for Nature.
On the 5th of
June, 1990, the Chongololo Programme was awarded the
Global 500 Award by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This was for its
sustained contribution to promoting environmental protection
through awareness.
It was five
years later, in 1995, that the Society's focus changed to
reflect the shift in emphasis from solely wildlife to broader
environmental issues. Thus, on the World Environment Day, the
Society came to be what it is today - the Wildlife and
Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia and remains the
country’s oldest charitable membership-based non-governmental
organisation dedicated to environmental conservation.
Activities
A key element of our Environmental Education Programme is the
production of environmental education material such as the
Chongololo and Chipembele magazines, distributed free to schools
and community-based Chongololo and Conservation clubs in Zambia.
These printed materials are supported by a weekly environmental
commentary column, “Environmental Notes by Warthog”, in the
Sunday Times of Zambia, and the Chongololo Club of the Air, a
weekly Sunday lunchtime radio programme on Radio 2. This
programme has a declared membership of over 80,500, with
countless passive listeners countrywide, making it probably the
largest environmental radio club in Africa.
The WECSZ has been a proud recipient of the prestigious Global
500 Award on June 5, 1990 (now called the Champions of the Earth
Award) from the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP), for
its conservation efforts.
The society also actively seeks to get engaged in supporting
wildlife research, environmental monitoring and practical
conservation, as well as awareness campaigns, advocacy, lobbying
and training.
Members also receive a free copy of the quarterly Black Lechwe
magazine.
