2025 Amended Parks and Wildlife Act – Summary of changes

The Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act No. 4 of 2025 is comprehensive legislative reform that modernizes Zimbabwe’s wildlife legal regime, improves sustainable conservation standards, and decentralizes wildlife management.

The short title of the principal law being amended is the Parks and Wild Life Act [Chapter 20:14], 1975

As originally enacted, the Parks and Wild Life Act set out to establish a Parks and Wild Life Board; to confer functions and impose duties on the Board; to provide for the establishment of national parks, botanical reserves, botanical gardens, sanctuaries, safari areas and recreational parks; to make provision for the preservation, conservation, propagation or control of the wild life, fish and plants of Zimbabwe and the protection of her natural landscape and scenery; to confer privileges on owners or occupiers of alienated land as custodians of wild life, fish and plants; to give certain powers to intensive conservation area committees; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.

Key provisions of the new legislation include:

• National Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund (HWCRF): It establishes a dedicated fund to provide monetary relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict—specifically covering death, maiming, and serious injury. The fund is supported by a 0.5% relief levy on consumptive and non-consumptive tourism, allocated hunting quotas, and parliamentary appropriations.
• Wildlife Professionals Council of Zimbabwe: The Act creates a new regulatory body responsible for certifying, registering, and enforcing professional and ethical standards across the wildlife sector.
• Devolution and Community Empowerment: It redefines and expands the “appropriate authority” status to include Rural District Councils and local community conservation structures (like CAMPFIRE). This allows communities to actively participate in both consumptive (hunting) and non-consumptive (eco-tourism) commercial activities.
• Strengthened Environmental Protections: The Act introduces scientifically determined quotas for wildlife harvesting and sets high-level consultation requirements before mining or prospecting in protected recreational parks.

…………………………………………….

Review by John Laing, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association

1. Introduction of “General Principles of Wildlife Conservation and Management”

A completely new section (Section 2A) has been inserted.

The amended Act now formally introduces modern conservation principles, including:

• Sustainable utilisation of wildlife
• Community-based conservation
• Precautionary environmental management
• Adaptive management practices
• Public participation and equity
• Preservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife heritage
• International and transboundary cooperation

This is one of the most important philosophical changes in the Act, shifting it from purely regulatory law toward ecosystem-based and sustainability-focused conservation.

2. New Wildlife Ownership Framework

The amendment significantly changes the concept of ownership of wildlife through the new Section 2B.

Key changes:

• Wildlife ownership rights are now more clearly defined.
• The State retains ownership of certain specially protected species.
• A new framework allows private or non-state ownership/custodianship of wildlife under permits and registration systems.
• Rhinoceros ownership and custodianship are specifically regulated.
• Transferability and registration of ownership rights are clarified.
• Wildlife quotas may now be treated as transferable and redeemable rights in some circumstances.

This is a major reform aimed at strengthening wildlife economics, private conservation investment, and regulated wildlife utilisation.

3. Creation of the Wildlife Professionals Council of Zimbabwe

A completely new Part IIB has been added.

The Act now establishes:

• The Wildlife Professionals Council of Zimbabwe
• Professional standards and regulation for wildlife practitioners
• A governance and funding structure for the Council
• By-laws governing wildlife professionals

This effectively professionalises the wildlife sector in the same way that the professions of  engineers, lawyers, or doctors are regulated.

4. Creation of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund

A new Part IIC establishes:

• A Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund
• Administrative mechanisms for claims
• Rules for compensation/disbursement
• Accountability requirements

This is a major policy development because the old Act had very limited structured compensation mechanisms for communities affected by wildlife damage or attacks.

5. Expanded Definitions and Modern Terminology

The interpretation section has been heavily expanded.

New definitions include:

• “Consumptive tourism”
• “Non-consumptive tourism”
• “Wildlife professional”
• “Learner professional guide”
• “Donation of wildlife”
• “Quota”
• “Precautionary principle”
• “Captive wild animal”
• “Park ranger”

The wording now reflects modern wildlife economics, ecotourism, conservation science, and professional wildlife management.

6. Formal Recognition of Wildlife-Based Tourism

The amendment now clearly distinguishes between:

• Consumptive tourism (hunting-related)
• Non-consumptive tourism (photographic, viewing, ecotourism)

This recognises tourism as a central conservation and economic tool and provides a clearer legal basis for safari operators and tourism activities.

7. Introduction of Wildlife Quota Systems

A new Section 58A introduces:

• Legal authority to determine and allocate wildlife quotas for consumptive use.

This formalises quota management and creates a stronger statutory basis for regulated hunting and wildlife utilisation systems.

8. Strengthening of Governance and Board Structure

The composition of the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Board has been modernised.  New requirements for appointment to the Board include representation or expertise in:

• Wildlife conservation
• Environmental management
• Tourism and marketing
• Information technology
• Auditing
• Human resources
• Legal practice
• Accounting

Traditional leaders are also formally represented through nominations from the National Council of Chiefs.

9. Greater Emphasis on Human-Wildlife Coexistence

The functions of the Authority now explicitly include:

• Measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflict
• Promotion of coexistence between wildlife and communities

This is a major policy shift toward balancing conservation with rural livelihoods.

10. New Legal Recognition of Wildlife Donations

The Act now introduces legal provisions for:

• Donation of wildlife
• Transfer and management of donated animals

This will support conservation translocations, private game donations, and breeding programmes.

11. Expanded Ranger and Enforcement Provisions

The amendment formally strengthens:

• Park ranger roles
• Powers of enforcement
• Identification and authority structures
• Special trapping regulations
• Quelea bird control provisions

This improves operational enforcement capacity.

12. Stronger Regulation of Wildlife Professionals

The amendment introduces:

• Learner professional guide licences
• Wildlife professional licensing
• Expanded control over hunting professionals and safari operators

This creates clearer career and compliance pathways in the wildlife sector.

13. Greater Community and Cultural Recognition

The Act now explicitly references:

• Community participation
• Equity in wildlife management
• Preservation of Zimbabwe’s wildlife cultural heritage

This reflects a move toward inclusive conservation models.

Overall Assessment of the 2025 Amendment

The 2025 amendment represents a major strategic shift in Zimbabwe’s wildlife legislation from a traditional “protected areas and anti-poaching” model towards:

• Integrated conservation,
• Professional wildlife governance,
• Community participation,
• Sustainable utilisation,
• Tourism-driven conservation,
• Regulated wildlife ownership/economics.

In practical terms, the biggest reforms are probably:

1. Wildlife ownership and quota reforms
2. Creation of the Wildlife Professionals Council
3. Human-Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund
4. Modern conservation principles
5. Stronger professionalisation of the wildlife sector.

Conclusion

The 2025 Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act is the most significant reform of Zimbabwe’s wildlife legislation in decades. It moves beyond a traditional focus on protected areas and anti-poaching to embrace modern conservation principles, stronger professional standards, greater community participation, improved human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and clearer wildlife ownership and utilisation rights. Ultimately, its success will depend on effective implementation, but it marks a decisive step towards a future in which conservation, tourism, rural development and sustainable wildlife management are more closely linked than ever before.