Lower Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe
One of the last untamed wilderness areas on our planet
An Iconic Landscape
The scale, biodiversity, wilderness and scenery of the Lower Zambezi makes it one of Africa’s iconic wildlife landscapes. So much so that in 1984, it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
THE IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Our planet’s natural ecosystems and biodiversities are deteriorating and disappearing at an unprecedented pace. We are experiencing the highest extinction rates in our history, with 1 million animal and plant species currently threatened, many within decades. The implications of these losses are far reaching, impacting the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink, as well as escalating climate change.
Africa is home to some of the world’s largest intact landscapes and 25% of global biodiversity. And yet with African populations forecast to grow threefold by 2100, these precious and essential wildernesses are under threat.
Despite the continent being home to more than 20% of the world’s protected areas, Africa receives less than 3% of the global funding. If the continent is to meet its 2030 climate goals and contribute to the 30×30 Global Biodiversity Framework target, these landscapes must be safeguarded.
Our Vision
At Chewore, our vision is to establish an area where conservation and tourism, wildlife and local communities live and operate side by side. Eventually, our dream is to collaborate with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority and other neighbouring concessions, to help optimize the sustainable maintainance of a wider area of connected wilderness; a world class rangeland of unique and large scale habitat that will attract philanthropists, business people, scientists and environmentalists, all working together to help secure the area’s incredible biodiversity.
HOW WE ARE ACHIEVING OUR VISION
As custodian of this land and in partnership with biodiversity experts My Trees Trust, we are assembling an exhaustive conservation plan that involves restoring and protecting Chewore and the surrounding areas.
By partnering with the wider scientific and conservation community, we would like to contribute to the development of innovative financial instruments, such as verified nature units or biodiversity credits, that will attract external investment and help finance net positive biodiversity gains.
We are in discussion with nature solutions partners to begin the robust evaluation and ongoing measure of Chewore’s biodiversity. These measurements and methodologies could, in turn, showcase the value of the area’s pristine ecosystems, unlocking a range of new economic opportunities for the region.
Who we are
Michael Hacking
Concession Owner
Michael’s love of Africa permeates his business and philanthropic activities, which extend to all four corners of the continent.
His successful business track record spans 45-years. In 1998, he founded Mocoh, a leading African trading company reputed for its integrity, honesty and focus on empowering partnerships.
In 2017, Michael established the charitable foundation mc2h. It’s mission to boost literacy in West Africa sees it collaborate with local partners to deliver innovative and effective literacy solutions to primary-aged children across the region, often in remote and under-served communities.
The acquisition of the Chewore concession in 2023 is a continuation of Michael’s lifelong passion for Africa and his desire to invest in sustainable impact initiatives across the continent.
JAMES EGREMONT-LEE
My Trees Trust Director
Having grown up in UK, James moved to Africa to indulge a fascination for wildlife and wild places through the 1990s. After some years working in and exploring remote regions of Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Mozambique, he settled in Zimbabwe and began operating specialist walking safaris in Zambia (2002-2008).
Life on safari gave way to a spell working with an agri-business conglomerate in Zimbabwe, before returning again to focus on wildlife and full-time conservation. James co-founded the My Trees Trust in 2019, and has played a role in leading other conservation organisations, notably the Zambezi Elephant Fund.
The Zambezi Valley has been a draw for James for over 30 years, and the majority of his time is spent helping to create sustainable conservation models that can contribute to the preservation of this vast wilderness. His role with the development of Chewore reflects this ongoing mission.
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