The Chibememe Earth Healing Association (CHIEHA), Zimbabwe is one of the Equator Prize 2004 Finalists, recognised for its outstanding work to effectively reduce poverty while promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. CHIEHA’s extensive conservation efforts include reforestation, watershed protection, and the conservation of traditional crops and seeds while improving villager incomes through the production and marketing of sustainable non-timber forest products.

CHIEHA also is involved in extensive environmental awareness and policy advocacy activities in and around the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park Conservation Area (GLTPCA). The initiative reaches more than 50,000 people in the GLTPCA region. CHIEHA operates as a legally registered community based conservation and development trust organization initiated in 1998 by villagers in Chibememe village, which is comprised of 24 households (about 144 people).

Additionally, other villages from Sangwe and the adjoining Sengwe, Ndowoyo, Matema and Musikavanhu Communal lands will benefit from the development of projects and holistic management of natural and cultural resources. The Chibememe rural villagers formed CHIEHA as a strategy to counter the escalating loss of biodiversity and the resulting injury to livelihoods as a result of the threat of deforestation, injury to the Save international river and increased levels of poaching. The objective of CHIEHA is to promote the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage in the Sangwe Communal Lands and their environs through:

1) the fostering of communal participation in the conservation of cultural and natural resources, with a special focus on the equal involvement of men, women and youths, and

2) the sharing of information among stakeholders about conservation, culture and development.

To achieve these goals, CHIEHA is supporting five programs, including:

Environment and Culture Awareness:

> Environmental awareness bicycle rides

> Environmental and cultural awareness community drama performance

> Heritage bira or festival

> Operation of an environmental Cultural and Technology Information Centre

> Recording of local history, culture and tradition

> Soccer for the Environment Tournament

> Muchongoyo traditional dance performances Earth

Healing and Land Care:

> Rehabilitation and protection of the degraded environment, such as reclamation of the Zivembava Island forest.

> A community nursery for indigenous trees and verter grass

> Resource monitoring and awareness patrols

Income Generation:

> Kigelia Africanna (Mubveve) Juice Production Project

> Initiation of a CB non-timber and small gains processing centre

> Zivembava ethno- and eco-tourism project

> Supplementary cattle fattening (drought years)

> Peanut Butter (household)

Food Security:

> Sustainable agriculture or Small Grains Project

> Nutritional gardens and water harvesting GLTP Post WPC Rural Communities’ Programme

> GLTPCA Rural Communties’ Network

> Lobby for community benefits from biodiversity in protected areas

Now is a particularly important time for the community since it is faced with several opportunities and threats associated with the development of the Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park (considered the world’s greatest animal kingdom) which is located at its door step. CHIEHA will represent the many disadvantaged communities in the region who require resources to prepare themselves for this massive development process. Important activities will include engaging in ethno- and eco-tourism and the processing and marketing of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and agro-products. Please support the important work of this initiative with your donation. Please note that your support goes directly to the community since CHIEHA is owned and managed by and for community members, including women, children and HIV orphans.

Due to the complicated situation with banking in Zimbabwe CHIEHA asks that donations are sent to the following account:

Africa Environment Trust

Bank: Barclays Bank - Highlands Branch - Zimbabwe
A/C No: FCA 2157 6464258
Swift Code: BARCZWHX