Zimbabwe has banned mining in all 11 of its national parks, marking a huge victory for the country's iconic wildlife.

As reported by BBC News, the landmark decision means that officials have reversed their previous agreement to let Chinese firms explore for coal at its famous Hwange game park - which is home to approximately 40,000 elephants and a population of endangered black rhino.

In addition, the world-renowned Hwange National Park - the country's biggest national park - is also the location of leopard and painted dog conservation programs

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

The move comes after campaigners sought legal action against the government, calling for officials to prevent "ecological degradation" within the nation's parks. The movement was led by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA), who battled for over five years to block the mining rights that had been granted in 2015.

On Monday, ZELA filed court papers that warned that the parks would become sites "for drilling, land clearance, road building and geological surveys" if coal exploration was to be granted.

In response, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced on Tuesday (September 8) that a ban would be placed with immediate effect. She said: "Steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining titles held in national parks."

In addition, Mutsvangwa also that mining along river beds would be banned across most of the country - a decision that will affect small-scale Chinese and local gold miners.

Per the New York Times, Shamiso Mtisi, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association deputy director explained how mining across Zimbabwe is a "widespread" problem.

Mtisi said:

"There is gold and diamond mining going on in several national parks across the country, it’s not just in Hwange. That’s a major threat to biodiversity and to tourism. It’s an economic issue, you cannot just rely on mining, you need to leverage on other sectors such as tourism."

The Times adds that as well as the large elephant population, Hwange park is also home to over 100 mammal and 400 bird species - such as buffalos, leopards, and lions.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

Environment groups have since explained that many of these species are already struggling for food and water in the vast savannah due to a prolonged drought, and the proposed mining would only result in the pollution remaining water sources.

Zimbabwe has banned mining in all 11 of its national parks, marking a huge victory for the country's iconic wildlife.

As reported by BBC News, the landmark decision means that officials have reversed their previous agreement to let Chinese firms explore for coal at its famous Hwange game park - which is home to approximately 40,000 elephants and a population of endangered black rhino.

In addition, the world-renowned Hwange National Park - the country's biggest national park - is also the location of leopard and painted dog conservation programs

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

The move comes after campaigners sought legal action against the government, calling for officials to prevent "ecological degradation" within the nation's parks. The movement was led by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA), who battled for over five years to block the mining rights that had been granted in 2015.

On Monday, ZELA filed court papers that warned that the parks would become sites "for drilling, land clearance, road building and geological surveys" if coal exploration was to be granted.

In response, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced on Tuesday (September 8) that a ban would be placed with immediate effect. She said: "Steps are being undertaken to immediately cancel all mining titles held in national parks."

In addition, Mutsvangwa also that mining along river beds would be banned across most of the country - a decision that will affect small-scale Chinese and local gold miners.

Per the New York Times, Shamiso Mtisi, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association deputy director explained how mining across Zimbabwe is a "widespread" problem.

Mtisi said:

"There is gold and diamond mining going on in several national parks across the country, it’s not just in Hwange. That’s a major threat to biodiversity and to tourism. It’s an economic issue, you cannot just rely on mining, you need to leverage on other sectors such as tourism."

The Times adds that as well as the large elephant population, Hwange park is also home to over 100 mammal and 400 bird species - such as buffalos, leopards, and lions.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

Environment groups have since explained that many of these species are already struggling for food and water in the vast savannah due to a prolonged drought, and the proposed mining would only result in the pollution remaining water sources.