About us
Based in Zambia, WCP plays a crucial role in the global fight against wildlife and environmental crime. The trafficking of illegal wildlife products and the illegal timber trade constitute serious, organised crime conducted by networks operating across borders in the Southern African region.
Wildlife and environmental crime is now estimated to be worth over USD1 trillion, with governments from wildlife source countries losing between USD7 billion and USD12 billion (World Bank, 2019). This trafficking significantly detrimentally impacts our biodiversity, ecosystems and the security and stability of affected regions.
Zambia, surrounded by eight countries with porous borders, is both a source country for wildlife products and timber and a major trade route for a wide range of illegal contraband.
However, Zambia’s geographic location also provides several opportunities, which WCP has capitalised on by building relationships and networks with organisations and enforcement partners working to combat Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) across the full criminal value chain in Zambia and regionally across Africa.
Governance
WCP Zambia, a registered company limited by guarantee under Zambian law with public benefit organisation (PBO) status, collaborates with several key government institutions through memoranda of understanding (MoUs). These include the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Zambian Correctional Services (ZCS), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), and the Forestry Department. Additionally, WCP Zambia has an MoU in place with the Anti Corruption Commission.
Our Work
Law Enforcement
WCP supports DNPW and other Government partners in combating wildlife trafficking by enhancing investigative resources, improving information gathering and analysis, strengthening collaboration with government and non-government partners, and consolidating law enforcement efforts. These initiatives increase the effectiveness of arrests and prosecutions.
Wildlife Criminal Justice
Working closely with DNPW, the National Prosecution Authority, and the judiciary, WCP monitors wildlife and environmental crime cases, supports effective prosecutions and appropriate sentencing, and ensures adherence and ensures adherence to applicable legal standards while striving to reduce recidivism and strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to wildlife and environmental crimes in Zambia.
Communications
WCP WCP provides information on wildlife and environmental crimes by highlighting their impact on biodiversity, economic stability, and national security. Through targeted education, public information, and strategic communications, WCP supports conservation objectives, supports conservation practices, and strengthens public understanding of the importance of protecting Zambia’s natural heritage.
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation
Enhancing knowledge and evidence on wildlife and environmental crimes to support law enforcement and conservation decisions. Key projects focus on rhino horn trade, bushmeat, big cat and pangolin poaching. Supporting DNPW with a rehabilitation centre for seized pangolins, ensuring appropriate care and release back into the wild.
Pangolin Rehabilitation and Release
Seized live pangolins often require urgent care. WCP supports DNPW with a rehabilitation centre to provide treatment and care for injured or sick pangolins before their release. Post-release monitoring helps assess survival rates and distribution, improving conservation strategies and understanding the impact of rehabilitation efforts on wild populations.
Highlights
Key Highlights of WCP’s Impact and Efforts in Wildlife Conservation
Collaborative Approach
WCP collaborates extensively with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), judiciary bodies and non-governmental and technical partners, forming a cohesive network that strengthens enforcement, prosecution, and conservation efforts throughout Zambia and beyond.
Impactful Prosecutions
WCP’s work with the judicial system in Zambia ensures effective prosecution of wildlife crimes. By supporting the NPA and monitoring wildlife crime cases, WCP plays a pivotal role in securing appropriate sentencing, helping deter wildlife crime through the certainty of punishment.
Training and Technical Support
Through workshops and resources like the Rapid Reference Guide for the Investigation and Prosecution of Wildlife Crimes, WCP equips law enforcement and judicial officers with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively address wildlife crime.
Public Engagement
The “Worth More Alive” campaign, launched by WCP in partnership with DNPW and the Zambian Airports Corporation, uses life-size animal sculptures and informative posters to provide public information on wildlife crime, informing travelers at airports about the importance of wildlife protection.
Pioneering Pangolin Rehabilitation
WCP supports the rehabilitation of pangolins seized from illegal trade. It provides a dedicated rehabilitation centre that cares for injured pangolins, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild and monitoring their survival.
Conservation
Careers Fair
Testimonials
WCP Zambia facilitates an annual Conservation Careers Fair (CCF) in Zambia. Starting in 2018, it is now hugely popular with job seekers.
I first attended the CCF in 2018, after discovering WCP through social media and friends. I traveled from the Copperbelt to attend, eager to learn more about the organization and its work.
I first attended the CCF in 2018, where I met the ZCP team. After applying for an internship, I’ve been working at ZCP ever since, having heard about the event from my lecturer.
I attended the CCF in 2019 and was offered a volunteer opportunity with GRI. I learned about the event through social media and spoke at the 2021 CCF about my experience.
board of directors
WCP Zambia is governed by a board of directors comprising:
Kerri Rademeyer
CEO Alinea
Rob Stacey
Niner Juliet Logistics
Mwelwa Chibesakunda
Chibesakunda & Co
Adrian Gahan
Blue Marine Foundation
Craig Reid
African Parks Network
Michael Kachumi
Churches Health Association of Zambia
Latest news
Our archive of articles about WCP’s work across landscapes addressing wildlife and environmental crime and its impact on biodiversity, ecosystems, and regional stability.
Carrying the Torch Forward: Celebrating Cohort Two and Welcoming Cohort Three of WCP’s Environmental Crime Journalism Fellowship
As the second cohort of Wildlife Crime Prevention’s Environmental Crime Journalism Fellowship graduates, a new group of journalists steps forward to continue the mission of strengthening investigative reporting on environmental crime. The programme is building a growing network of storytellers committed to exposing wildlife crime, illegal resource exploitation, and environmental injustice in Zambia and beyond.
What Does It Mean to Be a Pangolin Guardian?
As Zambia marked World Pangolin Day under the theme “Pangolin Guardians in Action,” this story explores what it truly means to protect one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. From rehabilitation centres to classrooms and communities, guardianship is a shared responsibility, and one that is vital to safeguarding our ecosystems and future.
A US$50 million Clean-Up That Stayed on Paper: Kabwe’s Lead Crisis
Despite a World Bank-backed remediation project and years of international scrutiny, Kabwe’s residents say contamination, illness, and broken...
