Zimbabweans are very aware of their wildlife and environmental heritage. The future of the Victoria Falls, therefore, is of great concern to many people, both dedicated conservationists and the man on the street.

Much of the infrastructure in the town was developed several decades ago. But with three major hotels and almost a dozen safari lodges having been constructed in the town in the last 15 years, considerable pressure is now placed on the town's water and sewage systems, which have not been upgraded because government funds have not been forthcoming. The increased volume of visitors through the rain forest is also putting strain on the environment.

Aware of the potential dangers, the Zimbabwean and Zambian governments requested the IUCN (World Conservation Union) to assist in the preparation of a Master Plan to ensure sustainable development in the Falls area. With information already gleaned from studies undertaken by Zimbabwe's department of Natural Resources and the tourism industry, IUCN produced a Strategic Environmental Assessment with recommendations to take the area through to the year 2005.

However, a meeting between high powered Zimbabwean and Zambian policy makers in March 1996 failed to produce a final plan implementing the recommendations of IUCN, due to a lack of funds. It was suggested, though, that a five year moratorium on development within the World Heritage Site be implemented, but this did not even come to the vote.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made to preserve the rain forest. Natural looking fences of thorn branches are placed along the pathways to keep visitors off the grass and out of the forest. Sadly many visitors are more concerned about their photographs than if there will be a rain forest for their offspring to visit. Gaps through the fences have become known as "tourist paths". Those paths do not grow over again. And litter, unless removed, does not always disappear!

The Department of National Park controlled, to a certain extent, the issuing of licences, especially for boats on the Zambezi River, and in allowing tour operators into the Zambezi National Park, particularly during the rainy season.

Another area of anxiety is the number of trees being cut down for tourist carvings. Though one study did say that this was not damaging the forests, loss cannot be avoided in the long term. Trees are not being planted to replace those destroyed.

As the volume of tourists to the Falls continues to increase, so does the need for each and every visitor to be more aware of the pressures being faced. Encouraging responsible tourism is one of the keys to protecting the natural beauty of this World Heritage Site for future generations.

Published in Travel Africa Edition One: Autumn 1997.Text is subject to Worldwide Copyright (c)