New Office Block Strengthens Conservation and Collaboration in Zambia’s Kafue Flats
Participants gather to celebrate the opening of the new offices at Blue Lagoon National Park. International Crane Foundation photos
October 28, 2025 – Zambia – A newly commissioned modern office block at Blue Lagoon National Park Headquarters at Naleza will serve as a vital hub for wildlife management, research, and community engagement in Zambia’s Kafue Flats. Officially opened on 21st October 2025, the new facility was funded by The Beit Trust and the International Crane Foundation and will be managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.
The state-of-the-art facility will house essential staff, National Park Management, and other conservation partners—providing a dedicated space for law enforcement, park revenue collection, research, planning, monitoring, and engagement activities. This milestone supports the ongoing 20-year collaborative management agreement aimed at conserving and restoring the Kafue Flats ecosystem.
The management agreement—led by the International Crane Foundation, World Wildlife Fund Zambia and supported by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife under the Zambia Ministry of Tourism—seeks to tackle key environmental challenges such as wildlife poaching, unmanaged grazing, unsustainable fishing, unplanned settlements, and the impacts of flooding and climate change. Through collective action, the partnership aims to find sustainable solutions that benefit both people and nature as “A thriving wetland for all.”
The 6,500-hectare Kafue Flats wetland includes Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar National Parks and is home to over 470 bird species, including the Endangered Wattled Crane. More than 1.3 million people live in or around the area, depending on its natural resources for water, food, and livelihoods.
The newly constructed office addresses the long-standing need for an expanded and secure workspace at Blue Lagoon National Park Headquarters. The previous facility was too small to accommodate operational requirements and partner meetings.
The new infrastructure includes:
· A control room and modern radio communications system to monitor field operations.
· A secure armory for storing firearms and ammunition used by wildlife police officers and community scouts.
· Storage facilities for field rations and equipment.
· Offices for the area warden, accountants, ecologists, extension officers, and other foundation staff.
· A dedicated meeting room for park management, conservation partners, and visitors.
“The infrastructure we are unveiling today will empower our officers to safeguard wildlife more effectively, curb illegal activities, and elevate the experience for visitors to Blue Lagoon National Park,” said Hon. Rodney Sikumba, Minister of Tourism, during the commissioning ceremony.
He added that Zambia remains committed to the resolutions of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) under the Victoria Falls Declaration, which emphasized the need to integrate wetland conservation into local, national, and regional development plans.
“Our commitment here in the Kafue Flats forms part of the Africa Crane Conservation Programme of the International Crane Foundation, whose goal is to secure and restore crane populations and their wetland and grassland habitats across sub-Saharan Africa,” added Kerryn Morrison, Vice President for Africa Programs at the International Crane Foundation.
The International Crane Foundation will continue its work in the region through the Kafue Flats Restoration Partnership, guided by its vision of “A Thriving Floodplain for All.”
