COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

This Unit is headed by a Unit Head. He is the Community Collaboration Officer, and the Administrative Assistant to the Park Manager. He is a Principal Wildlife Officer in rank. He joined the wildlife division in 1999. In the absence of the Park Manager, he acts as Park Manager. As a Community Collaboration Officer, his unit is the link between the Park and the communities fringing the Park. The unit conducts community sensitization and conservation education programs. The unit also assists farmers fringing the Park to control wildlife (elephants) from raiding their crops. Where raiding occurs, the Unit takes records of the damage caused. The Unit also organises and supervises alternative livelihood programs in the fringe communities. The Unit, in collaboration with NGOs and fringe communities, is responsible for the creation and management of Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs). They also link up with the fringing Districts in the formation of Protected Area Management Advisory Units/Boards (PAMAU/PAMAB).