Angolan hunters serve as Watchers to protect vital water tower

Local leaders in the southeastern highlands of Angola have appointed experienced hunters from the Luchaze and other communities to serve as Watchers. These individuals monitor the Lisima Lya Mwono, a vast woodland region that serves as a primary water source for millions of people in neighboring countries.

The initiative began after community elders noticed outsiders entering the highlands to hunt for bushmeat without permission.

These outsiders often ignored traditional rules regarding hunting locations, seasons, and the distribution of meat among villagers. In response, villages across the landscape nominated one Watcher to oversee the woodlands and ensure that hunting remains consistent with local customs. The Watchers use smartphones to record the coordinates of hunting camps and take photos to document the condition of forests and lakes.

They also send audio messages in their local language to village leaders to report illegal hunting and track where fires are lit. This system aims to protect the miombo woodland, which contains diverse wildlife including roan antelope, lions, and leopards. While the region was recently designated a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention, it still lacks formal legal protection in Angola.

Conservationists say that while traditional practices like hunting and beekeeping are important for livelihoods, the expansion of industrial timber harvesting or large-scale agriculture poses a threat. The project aims to combine traditional ecological knowledge with modern monitoring to ensure the community remains the primary guardian of the landscape.