Friends of Hwange Trust (FOH)

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Hwange National Park (HNP) is home to an abundance of wildlife, especially its famed elephants. Hwange National Park has very little natural surface water during the dry months of the year. Most of the water has to be pumped from underground sources to surface pans so that the wildlife can drink.
Friends of Hwange (FOH) is a registered non-profit NGO that works to conserve not just the elephants, but all wild fauna and flora in Hwange.

Mission Statement
• To develop and maintain water resources in Hwange National Park for the benefit of its wildlife, in collaboration with the Authorities responsible for the Park
• To develop and maintain opportunities for the conservation of natural resources in the Park so that it will be enjoyed by the generations to come

Aims
• To ensure that FOH does everything in its power to prevent animal deaths owing to lack of water
• To maintain a situation where there are sufficient well-distributed waterholes that pump water through eco-friendly, cost-effective means
• To assist National Parks in carrying out their duties in terms of deployment of rangers on anti-poaching patrols
• To maintain roads and fireguards in the park
• To assist in conservation issues such as anti-poaching, animal rescue and research.

What we do
FOH maintains the boreholes and water pumps for all of the pans covering a large section of the park in and around the Main Camp area. With advancements in solar technology, solar powered systems have proved extremely effective and have replaced the diesel engines and windmills that were historically used to pump water. In the dry season (April – November) the demand for available water increases, mainly due to elephant pressure. The solar systems provide sufficient water using energy which is both eco-friendly and cost effective.
In more recent years, FOH has expanded its work to include numerous tasks asides from water provision for wildlife.
• Clearance of firebreaks is a major annual task. Initially the area is cleared of rocks, fallen trees, dead wood and general overgrowth then harrowed using a tractor and disc harrow and finally controlled burns take place. There is a limited window of time within which fire guards can be established – too early and the grass is too green and won’t burn, too late and fierce winds and tinder-dry vegetation pose too great a threat of runaway fires.
• Anti-poaching initiatives such as scout foot patrols and snare sweeps are supported both inside and on the boundary of the National Park.
• Road maintenance for easy deployment of parks rangers is important.
• Supply of monthly ration packs for Park’s rangers boosts their morale and keeps them well fed.
• Humane animal rescue work gives afflicted wildlife another chance at life in the wild.
• Research and Data collection projects of vulnerable species is promoted.
• Staff support in the form of basic medical help has been of prime importance during the Covid 19 pandemic.
• Camp and picnic site upkeep promotes ecotourism.

Dave Dell is the Chairman of Friends of Hwange Trust (FOH).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.