Acknowledgements

This document integrates the outputs of three components of a strategy and action plan formulation process. The first part of the process gathered existing information on the status and trends of Zambia's ecosystem diversity and species biodiversity. Among others, the study component prepared a preliminary inventory of ecosystems and species biodiversity and identified threats and emerging issues. These studies prepared ground for the overall biodiversity country study or assessment. The biodiversity stock-taking assessment was undertaken by various national consultants including M. Bingham, M.L. Bangwe, E. Chisanga, G. Kalyocha, H. Mwima, G. Kapooria, K. Mbata, D.N. Mbewe, G.P. Mwila, H.G. Mudenda, L. Mumba, D.K. Mwinga and M. Sichilongo under the leadership of Prof. E.M. Chidumayo.

The second part of the process was consensus building and it entailed conducting 7 consultative workshops at the provincial level and 2 at the national level. The workshops served to enhance public awareness and involvement to ensure that project and process t ownership remained vested in the local stakeholders. The consensus building process was led by Mr. L. Aongola, Mr. G. Chilukusha and Mr. K. Mwansa in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration with IUCN - The World Conservation Union.

The third component of the process was the synthesis and analysis of the firndings of the stock taking exercise and of reports from the consensus building workshops to draft the national BSAP. This component of the process was preceded by training ora Core Team of professionals in analysis and selection of options and drafting of an integrated NBSAP document for consideration by the national stakeholders. The training exercise was  essential considering the complexity of the process and the diversity in its content. Training of the Core Team was done by Mr. Roy Hagen, an international consultant provided by the UNDP-GEF, New York. Compilation of the draft BSAP was done by IUCN who also conducted the final review and editing of the same document through the services of a team led by Mr. L. Aongola on behalf of IUCN.

The 1UCN - Zambia Office is proud to have been associated with Zambia's BSAP process and wishes to express sincere gratitude to all the people who contributed to the success of the preparation and production of Zambia's first BSAP. In this regard, particular note is made of the input of indigenous knowledge experts through traditional  leaders and the local communities. The Government of Zambia's commitment during the process was demonstrated through high level participation by the institutions of all concerned sectors such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Energy and Water Development, Ministry of Local Government and Housing along side the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resource. Their broad participation is an indicator of the shared ownership the process and the outcome of the national BSAP enjoys. I wish to express my gratitude to them all!

Ms Sally Linda Mulalu 
Country Representative
IUCN-The World Conservation Union, Zambia Office