In August 2023, conservationists in Zambia heaved a sigh of relief when the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) cancelled a decision to allow for mining in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP) by Mwembeshi Resources Limited, bringing a 12-year environmental standoff to a halt.

Established as a National Park in 1983, LZNP covers an area of 4,092 square kilometers along the northwestern bank of the Zambezi River. Prior to its establishment as a national park, the area was the private game reserve of Zambia’s president, which protected it from mass tourism and left it relatively untouched. A pristine wildlife sanctuary and …