“Effective conservation requires diversified leadership and highly skilled, capacitated practitioners. Key admiration should be their vital role in the field is to confronting and overcoming conservation challenges, offering pragmatic solutions to the wicked and complex issues that threaten our natural world.”
Originally from Zimbabwe, Fanuel Nleya is a dedicated and dynamic conservationist with over 20 years of experience in nature conservation and wildlife management. His journey began in 2004 when he joined the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, in Hwange National Park (Sinamatella Intensive Protection Zone). Diversifying his experience and rising through the ranks of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Fanuel joined the Scientific Services of the Authority as an Extension Ranger moving from Sinamatella IPZ to Victoria Falls (World Heritage Site)/ Zambezi National Park and later on to Charara Safari Area as Senior Extension and Interpretation Officer in Kariba which was his area of last deployment in 2016.
During this period of time, he enjoyed the benefit of excellent training, gained a great deal of experience and became adequately qualified and experienced to handle the essential tasks and duties required to manage the important wildlife resources. In these positions he worked closely with ecologists, CAMPFIRE, KAZA TFCA staff, NGOs like ALERT, Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Painted Dog Research Trust (PDRT), Environment Africa etc doing extension and community work, conducting research and management activities that enriched his practical skills and scientific knowledge. Throughout he also amassed extensive experience in research, rhino monitoring, law enforcement and active anti-poaching strategies, as well as addressing the issues of CBNRM and HWC. He has also participated in numerous ZPWMA projects, gaining extensive knowledge and practical skills in areas such as conducting EIAs, large mammal population surveys, vegetation mapping, fire management, and wildlife habitat monitoring and World Heritage Site Management. He has also been involved in various research initiatives, including studies on human-wildlife conflict, alien vegetation eradication, and large predator occupancy surveys in Victoria Falls/Zambezi/Matetsi Safari Area regions and KAZA landscape. In addition to this fieldwork, Fanuel contributed significantly to ZPWMA community liaison and public relations efforts, promoting conservation awareness and education through participation in provincial and national exhibition events like Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. He has extensive experience addressing human-wildlife conflicts in both rural and urban areas, collaborating with various organizations. Additionally, he is trained in various HWC management tools and techniques, including the FAO-developed HWC Toolkit, chilli guns, and chilli bombs.
Starting off as a volunteer at SAWC in 2017 he has taught the college Bridging course programme that empowers young South Africans at entry level into conservation, he has been the lead facilitator/trainer/lecturer for the Higher Certificate in Nature Conservation: Leadership and implementation targeting already employed conservation practitioners. He continues to contribute to the development of Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Managers in the SADC region through lecturing the Advanced Certificate Nature Conservation: Transfrontier Conservation Management (NQF Level 6) program and the National Certificate Natural Resource Management: Terrestrial (NQF 5) program. He has since assumed the management of these programmes at the college.
Fanuel’s extensive experience and dedication make him a valuable asset to the field of conservation, where he continues to lead efforts in protected area management, conservation education, and the development of practical solutions for complex environmental challenges. Throughout his career, Fanuel has received several awards and professional memberships, including the Earth Watch Institute Shulman Award 2016 and professional membership in the Game Ranger Association of Africa. His interests include conservation leadership, foresight and future thinkings, protected area management, conservation law enforcement, environmental law, terrestrial ecology, human-wildlife conflict management (HWC), community-based natural resources management (CBNRM), Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), and the application of technologies for sustainable natural resource management.