Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Implementation challenges and practices

Biodiversity monitoring and data-management technologies can enhance the protection of persecuted species, such as African elephants (Loxodonta africana), through providing management-relevant information. Implementing these technologies, however, often presents several capacity resource challenges for field staff in protected areas. In Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Parks Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) is process adopting Spatial Monitoring Reporting Tool (SMART) law enforcement data management tool adaptive management. With support conservation partners, ZPWMA was able to acquire SMART equipment (computers handheld cyber-tracker devices) well train rangers officers on how use region. Following training provision equipment, most areas (6 out 7) Valley have adopted relevant are being collected. This study draws from first-hand experience workshops, interviews with staff, observations visits, discussions partners Zambezi Valley. We observed that introduction marred by (a) technical challenges, (b) behavioral human dynamics (c) resources challenges. These were linked ineptness among patrol officers, discomfort new technology, uneven distribution implement SMART. To help overcome some we propose development an integrated implementation plan, motivation learning models institutions successfully implemented SMART, more equipment.