Lessons Learned on Community Game Ranching in Zambia

Wildlife or game ranching is a billion-dollar industry in southern Africa.1 Despite Zambia’s seemingly high potential for community-focused private sector development in the industry, it has not flourished to date. Notwithstanding this, private agricultural ranches continue to add game ranching to their portfolios, and several community game ranching initiatives exist. Because participation of civil society (local communities) is understood to be essential for integrating social, economic, environmental, and political imperatives when determining appropriate climate resilient land use in Zambia, this brief examines how community game ranches in particular are operating within a challenging economic and policy environment and assesses their sustainability potential.