Yerevan, Armenia – A Mozambican safari company has received the 2026 Markhor Award for its work restoring wildlife in the Zambezi Delta. The recognition came during the United Nations biodiversity conference known as COP17. Zambeze Delta Safaris combines regulated hunting with anti-poaching patrols and local development projects in a region long affected by conflict. The award highlights one approach to meeting global targets for sustainable wildlife use that also supports communities. ([1])
Why the timing matters
Governments at COP17 are reviewing progress on biodiversity goals set in 2022. One target calls for sustainable management of wildlife that delivers benefits to people. A recent United Nations assessment found the world is not on track to meet those commitments by 2030. The Markhor Award, presented on October 22, offers a concrete example of work already underway in one African landscape.
From depleted lands to active recovery
Mark Haldane began operations in Coutada 11, a hunting concession in central Mozambique, in 1994. Years of civil war had left wildlife populations severely reduced. He later founded Zambeze Delta Safaris with Mozambican partner Carlos Pacheco Faria. The company’s efforts focus on the Zambezi Delta, where regulated trophy hunting helps fund restoration, security, and community programs.
How the model operates
Revenue from carefully managed hunts supports anti-poaching teams and habitat work. Local residents gain employment and other benefits tied to the presence of wildlife. The approach aligns with the idea that sustainable use can contribute to conservation when paired with enforcement and development. Haldane described the recognition as humbling and beyond anything he had imagined.
What the award signals
CBD executive secretary Astrid Schomaker noted the win as something worth celebrating amid broader challenges. The prize recognizes contributions that link wildlife management with community gains. For operators and governments seeking practical ways to meet biodiversity targets, the Zambezi Delta case shows one tested path. Continued monitoring will determine how widely similar models can apply elsewhere.
