Zimbabwe’s ZimParks has opposed a coal mining project near Hwange National Park due to its potential threats to the endangered black rhino population. The project, planned by Chinese firm Sunny Yi Feng, poses significant ecological risks, particularly to groundwater sources essential for local wildlife. Conservationists urge the government to adhere to prior commitments to ban mining in nature reserves, emphasizing the importance of protecting endangered species against poaching and habitat loss.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has condemned a proposed coal mining project in Hwange National Park, citing concerns over its impact on the endangered black rhino population. The project is planned near the Sinamatella Black Rhino Intensive Protection Zone, and ZimParks has requested the Ministry of Mines to cancel it, highlighting the severe threats to the species’ survival.
ZimParks, tasked with restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, noted that mining activities in this area could increase the risk of extinction for black rhinos, thus undermining ongoing conservation efforts. The contentious project, proposed by the Chinese firm Sunny Yi Feng, seeks to explore coal mining over a 16,000-hectare area situated just eight kilometers from the rhino protection zone.
Critics of the mining plan argue that such activities would adversely affect ecological conditions essential for wildlife, including vital groundwater supplies necessary for Hwange’s populous elephant population, which stands at approximately 65,000, the largest in Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies black rhinos as endangered, with only about 6,400 remaining worldwide as of September 2023, and existing populations have suffered declines due to poaching.
In 2020, Zimbabwe’s government had pledged to ban mining in nature reserves following a similar dispute involving another Chinese entity, Tongmao Coal. Conservationists are now calling on authorities to honor this commitment and protect vulnerable ecosystems.
The situation regarding coal mining near Hwange National Park highlights the tensions between economic development and wildlife conservation. ZimParks’ opposition to the mining project underlines the critical need to protect endangered species like the black rhino. As global awareness of conservation issues grows, it is imperative that Zimbabwe’s government upholds previous promises to ban mining in ecologically sensitive areas to foster sustainable conservation practices.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
