The collaboration of thirteen lodges in and around the Lower Zambezi National Park has resulted in a milestone in global conservation; the very first Carbon Neutral Park in the world. Baines’ River Camp is proud to be part of this initiative. How does this work? It is a complex and intricate, ongoing project, but here is the short version.
The operators based within the National Park first reached a point where their emission of greenhouse gases has reduced significantly. The unavoidable emissions from necessary generators, cooking delicious meals for guests, game drives, boating activities etcetera remain. These are offset by purchasing Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project. The camps located within the National Park secured their own VCUs and the 7 participating safari camps located in the Chiawa Game Management Area (GMA) purchased the Units that offset the emissions from conservation work undertaken by the Zambian Government and Conservation Lower Zambezi.
The Lower Zambezi National Park shares its western boundary with the Chiawa GMA and its Eastern boundary with the Rufunsa GMA. In essence, this financial support assists the reforestation and land management in the adjoining Rufunsa GMA, where deforestation was pandemic. A significant achievement for the Lower Zambezi and an incentive for Zambia as a whole, this is a clear statement of the combined safari operator commitment to the protection of our environment for future generations.
Each year, the emission in the National Park will be monitored and calculated to be offset against annual VCUs
The thirteen lodges that participate in this effort (in alphabetical order), are Anabezi Camp, Baines’ River Camp, Chiawa Camp, Chongwe River Camp, Chongwe River House, Kanyemba Lodge, Kasaka Lodge, Mwambashi River Lodge, Old Mondoro Bush Camp, Potato Bush Camp, Royal Zambezi Lodge Sausage Tree Camp and Tsika Island.
