Join us for our webinar with Rich Beilfuss, President and CEO; Griffin Shanungu, Zambia Country Coordinator; and Mwape Sichilongo, Southern African Floodplains Regional Manager, on Thursday, June 11, at 11 a.m. Central Time. Click here to register: bit.ly/2XwKl00

Sponsored by Jeanne and Ed Eloranta. In honor of the Kasoma Family: Zachary, Emily, Tessa and Caleb of Lusaka, Zambia.

The Kafue Flats in Zambia is one of the most important wetlands in the world, home to a third of the world’s Wattled Cranes, endangered Kafue Lechwe, hippo, buffalo and other big mammals, and more than 470 bird species. For millennia, the ecological health of the flats was maintained by communities who depend on the region for fishing, grazing their livestock, and other resources.

In recent decades, however, the flats have been severely degraded by dams, mining, large commercial agriculture, invasive species and increasing human settlements. In response, the International Crane Foundation and WWF-Zambia have joined the Government of the Republic of Zambia in a 20-year agreement to manage and restore the Kafue Flats, including two National Parks surrounded by a large Game Management Area. Presenters share their vision for the future of the Kafue Flats as a “thriving wetland for all” that sustains rich biodiversity and strong, healthy communities with sustainable livelihoods.

During this webinar, the trio will discuss the root causes of environmental change on the flats and what we can do about it. They also will share lessons from our successful project to remove invasive shrubs from the floodplain, restore habitat for Wattled Cranes and Lechwe, and increase local employment and income. Please join Rich, Mwape and Griffin to learn how saving cranes is about so much more than saving cranes!