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ALERT Communities Trust (ACT) and Conservation Centre for Wild Africa (CCWA)
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Friends of Victoria Falls Located in the far west of Zimbabwe is a unique eco-system of only 23km₂ comprising a riverine jungle with ilala palms, ferns, figs, liana vines and mahogany known as the Victoria Falls National Park. The Park provides a tranquil setting from which to view the five cascades of Mosi-oa-Tunya – the smoke that thunders. Antelopes can be seen in these areas and troops of nonchalant baboons patrol the walkways. Airborne droplets of fine mist create an almost constant rainbow, which can even be seen by the light of the moon. Victoria Falls National Park, which is a natural world heritage site is home to a relic of a rainforest that closely resembles that of a true equatorial rainforest; the vegetation being supported by the seasonal spray of water from the Falls themselves. But these perfect conditions have also supported the growth of invasive alien plant species (IAPS) over at least the last 30 years, the most prevalent of which is lantana camara, known as the “wicked weed”. These IAPS are invading the Park and replacing native vegetation that will eventually result in the local extinction of these indigenous species. To complement the eradication effort, a biological monitoring programme has been embarked upon, aimed at mapping eradicated areas, evaluating eradication efforts and measuring vegetation change directly resulting from eradication activities. Various parameters are measured seasonally and trends are monitored to depict change. Our plan is to enhance this study and monitor changes using high resolution satellite imagery. Various vegetation indices can be used to estimate the changes in biomass. We are also hoping to upgrade the education facilities at the Park in order that visitors have an opportunity to fully appreciate this natural wonder of the world. Our hope is to completely eradicate IAPS in the Victoria Falls National Park area whilst providing local employment and enhancing tourist facilities to better educate visitors to the Park about this unique site to encourage their support. This project is a partnership between the following organizations: African Encounter How Can You Help? CCWA has formed a partnership to enhance direct management intervention to undertake mechanical control of the weeds and is seeking funding to: • Employ people from the local community to undertake the eradication work including the purchase of appropriate clothing to operate in this wet and muddy environment; • Purchase equipment such as mattocks and hoes to mechanically remove the IAPS and approved chemicals to deter regeneration of underground root systems; • Purchase specialist equipment and people to attempt to deal with IAPS that have now infiltrated the less accessible Batoka Gorge; • Acquire satellite imagery to enhance biological monitoring; • Improve facilities at the Park’s education centre to enhance visitor awareness. We invite you to become a “Friend of Victoria Falls” and help support this vital work. For an annual donation you can sponsor a part of the 2,300 hectare Victoria Falls National Park. For doing so you will receive the following benefits: • A Welcome Pack by email giving you more information about this spectacular location and it’s wildlife; • A selection of photographs from the area displaying the Park’s natural beauty at its fullest; • An annual update on the progress of the project with special features on the fauna and flora that can be found in the Park; • The knowledge that you are part of the ongoing solution to help save this unique eco-system. Costs to sponsor the Victoria Falls National Park
Simply select which option you prefer from the drop down menu below and click on the Buy Now button to be taken to our secure online payment system: If you are joining as a gift for someone please also send an email to sponsor@lionalert.org to let us know the gift recipient’s full name, mailing address, correspondence email address, date which you would like their membership to start and finally, the purpose of the gift (e.g. birthday) For alternative payment options please contact us at sponsor@lionalert.org
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