A Zambian village near an ADMADE project. Zambian children in a community that is participating in ADMADE. Photos courtesy of Amy Vedder/Wildlife Conservation Society

ADMADE Game Management Project, Zambia In the late 1970s, wildlife populations in Zambia were drastically overhunted, leading to a population collapse in elephant and other species and the near extinction of the black rhino. Poverty in rural communities contributed to this decline, as villagers turned to illegal poaching to feed their families. The country's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was confronted with the difficult job of patrolling an extensive park system. The Parks Service conducted a study that revealed several underlying problems: the legal economic benefits of wildlife were not reaching communities, wildlife damage to crops was high, and options to improve rural living standards were unavailable. In response, a demonstration community-oriented project was established to involve local populations in game management, which led to a 95 percent drop in poaching within three years. Following this pilot project, in 1988 the government formed ADMADE, or the Administrative Management Design for game management areas -- designated, multiple-use areas that border national parks. Under this program, the government now trains villagers in resource management, financial management, and community development. This training takes place at the Nyamaluma Institute for Community-Based Resource Management, assisted by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which has trained over 4,000 community residents to act as game scouts and project leaders in the 35 game management areas. 1 of 2