Habitat loss and fragmentation often result in an urgent need to identify and prioritise the most important areas for conservation.
WildCRU uses camera trapping and GPS collar data with cutting-edge techniques to produce connectivity models for target species and landscapes. The results are made available in user-friendly ‘Decision Support Systems’ for conservation planners, providing evidence to underpin the complex decisions they face in balancing the needs of people and wildlife.
In October 2023 a pilot system was presented to over 50 conservation stakeholders from the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA). Focusing on the Zambezi Chobe Floodplain, the results of WildCRU’s lion modelling and the functionality of the Decision Support System were demonstrated, revealing the identification of core areas and crucial wildlife corridors to be protected.
The KAZA secretariat gave very positive feedback on this tool for land-use and conservation planning and is keen to see the work expanded.