Our Story
Protecting a landscape under threat
The Chirisa REDD+ Project was born through two parties coming together to try and solve the problem of deforestation and land degradation in a very special part of the country - the Chirisa Safari Area - before it is too late,
Our Mission
Protecting the forests we have been given
It is our mission to drastically reduce the deforestation and degradation currently occurring in the area while providing alternatives for communities to clearing land for agriculture, illegal firewood poaching and poaching wildlife for meat.
Our Values
Striving To Make a Difference
The Chirisa REDD+ Project's core values are:
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Integrity - doing the right thing
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Honesty - being trustworthy
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Fairness - treating everyone with respect
- Teamwork - better together
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Passion - loving what we do and being proud of what we are trying to protect
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High standards - doing our job to the best of our individual ability and with pride
Meet the Team
Meet our Management Team:
Charles Ndondo
Chirisa REDD+ Project, Managing Director
Charles has worked in the conservation & wildlife industry for both government & the private sector. He has been instrumental in enhancing the governance of community based natural resources projects, capacity development & market linkages for a variety of projects. Over the years Charles has managed to engage different government agencies to collaborate in wildlife & forest conservation initiatives. An all-rounder in project setup, start-up & implementation, he has been instrumental in the establishment & implementation of the Chirisa REDD+ project as its MD & Chief Liaison Officer. Charles is also the CEO of the successful Kariba REDD+ Project. He holds a BComm Degree in Business Management (Hons), a Masters in Business Administration, Strategic Management & Corporate Governance, is an Affiliate Member of the Institute of Personnel Management as well as holding an Executive Diploma in Strategic Public Relations & Business Promotion .
Celia Whelan
Chirisa REDD+ Project, Project Manager
Celia manages the Project on the ground. She has a broad background in consulting, mostly specializing in the financial services & private equity industry in Zimbabwe & abroad (having worked in both the United Kingdom & The Netherlands). She has a strong project management & operational background setting up & managing projects in various industries (e.g. carbon credits, hotel & tourism, medical & warehousing). She has spent four years in the REDD+ space involving all aspects of the carbon cycle from feasibility assessment, project design & field work to marketing and sales of credits, as well as producing carbon footprint calculations for clients. She holds the UK's International Certificate in Wealth & Investment Management & the Certificate in FSA Financial Regulation & is also a registered Climate Standard assessor through Climate Africa using the three step Climate Standard to measure, reduce & off-set carbon emissions.
Johanne Miyozi
Chirisa REDD+ Project, Area Manager
Johanne has more than 20 years’ of experience managing the Nyaminyami Rural District Council’s (NRDC's) Department of Wildlife Management comprising eighteen wildlife rangers. He advised the NRDC on sustainable wildlife management activities through the Environment Management Committee (EMC) & worked with local communities identifying, implementing and managing CAMPFIRE projects implemented from dividends earned from sport hunting. Johanne participated actively in the establishment continues to manage the ongoing running of the Kariba REDD+ project in the district. He holds a Masters Degree in Biodiversity Conservation, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management and Agriculture, a Professional Diploma in Sustainable Community Development and Humanitarian Project Management, as well as a Certificate in Wildlife Management.