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The Government of Zambia's long-term vision for environment and natural resources is to stimulate widespread interest and investment in environmental and natural resources management within a framework of economic growth. Zambia has a relatively long history of natural resources conservation and environmental management. Before the colonial era, traditional leaders in many areas exercised control over harvesting of trees, hunting of wildlife and catching of fish leading to over fishing.

Zambia cannot achieve sustainable development without first ensuring sound management of the environment and its natural resources. It is for this reason that Zambia has remained committed to environmental conservation and natural resources management.

Although still faced with great challenges, Zambia has taken important steps in the management of her environment and natural resources. Notable among these are:

• The National Conservation Strategy (NCS), 1985;
• The Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act, 1990 which is a regulatory instrument that cuts across sectors;
• The creation, in 1991, of the Environmental Council of Zambia to regulate environmental matters and deal with related issues;
• The creation, in 1992, of a Ministry to coordinate environmental matters;
• The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of 1994 whose thrust is to identify environmental problems and issues, analyse their causes and recommend necessary interventions;
• The National Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan 1998;
• The National Forestry Policy; and
• The National Policy on Environment;

The Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources and Co-operating Partners has undertaken to co-operate in all fields of Environmental Management and Protection, including pollution control, biodiversity conservation, protection of forest eco-systems, fisheries and wildlife management in order to ensure sustainable economic and human development.