Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Implementation challenges and practices

A new study highlights the significant potential of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) for enhancing biodiversity conservation, particularly for persecuted species like African elephants. However, its implementation faces substantial challenges, including technical ineptness among field staff, resistance to new technology, and uneven resource distribution. Researchers analyzed firsthand experiences from training workshops, interviews with field staff, and observations in the Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, where SMART adoption is being piloted by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA). Despite these hurdles, most protected areas in the region have begun using SMART for law enforcement and data collection. The study proposes solutions such as developing an integrated implementation plan, motivating field staff, and learning from successful models to overcome these barriers.

Kavhu, B., & Mpakairi, K. S. (2021). Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Implementation challenges and practices. Conservation Science and Practice, 3(9). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.492