Alternatives

I am a big fan of practicality; one reason I love the Nature Conservancy is that they include humans in their conservation plans. It is common for the super-educated to look at humanity from a broad perspective and declare us "parasites." We do fit the description; we have overrun our host (the planet) and are killing it. There is even a movement to cause humanity to die out, with all members pledging to sterilize themselves and to convince others to do the same.

While I understand this reasoning, I think it is too linear. I think humanity has a place on the planet and that it is our home. We've lived here for millions of years without destroying it, and I believe that by thinking and working together we can fix the damage we've caused. Perhaps I am too optimistic, but that is my perspective.

So, I was delighted to find this plan by the New-York based Wildlife Conservation Society. Essentially, rather than punishing poachers in Zambia, they are examining why people poach endangered animals, and the answer is because they are starving and it is a quick way to get money. So, by installing a program that trains people in a skill and rewards them with good behavior along with keeping punishments for poaching, they hope to truly lower poaching incidents.

Here's hoping that it works.

A cheaper plan to stop poachers: Give them real jobs

Mfuwe, Zambia - Jimmy Mbewe spent six-and-a-half years in prison after he was caught illegally killing an elephant outside South Luangwa National Park here in eastern Zambia.

Poverty drove the father of nine to wander the bush evading wildlife scouts to shoot buffalo and elephant and sell the meat to local traders. "I'm not educated, so I chose my profession as hunting," he says.

Out of prison now, his movements are monitored by a local antipoaching team.

But Mr. Mbewe says he has no intention of going back behind bars. He's now busy learning carpentry skills with other former poachers under the Community Markets for Conservation program.

Mbewe is also learning to farm and work as a beekeeper. As long as he refrains from poaching, COMACO buys his honey at a price higher than the local market average, processes it, packages it, and sends it on to local markets.

The program goes beyond teaching former poachers new ways to earn a living; it is creating a sophisticated network of markets that makes money for locals while reducing poaching, improving land use, and supporting conservation.

"The challenge is you can't demand support for conservation if conservation is a cost," says Dale Lewis, an American conservationist who moved to Zambia 28 years ago as a college research assistant, and has spearheaded the project.