Dutch lotto gives Malawi K2.2bn for national parks

The Netherland’s Dutch Postcode Lottery has granted Malawi, through Africa Parks, K2.2 billion (Euro 2.6 million) for the restoration of wildlife at Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

This was unveiled during the annual Goed Geld Gala held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Dutch Postcode said in a statement thatthe funding will be used for the rehabilitation and long-term protection of Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve which have a combined protected area of 225,000 hectares.

“The award is also crucial to one of the most important conservation initiatives occurring on the continent in 2016 – the translocation of approximately 500 elephants from Majete Wildlife Reserve and Liwonde National Park into a sanctuary in Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve,” said the statement.

Now under the protection and management of African Parks, the restocking of the Nkhotakota Game Reserve from the two parks that have a surplus of elephants has been an expected undertaking as government has failed to identify resources for some time.

The under taking is believed to be the largest ever elephant translocation in Africa.

African Parks chief executive officer, Peter Fearnhead, said funds will be allocated towards the advancement of economic development of communities living outside Liwonde and Nkhotakota through the creation of employment, educational and social services, and tourism opportunities.

This, he said, will greatly assist with the reduction in human-wildlife conflict and will enable African Parks to make a real, positive and lasting difference to the region on many levels.

African Parks has been an annual beneficiary of the Dutch Postcode Lottery since 2010, and the latest grant has made a total of €8 million awarded by the Lottery to African Parks which has significantly improved the wildlife situations in the reserves it operates in hence contributing to tourism.