Discover how FZS is redefining conservation impact in Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta with a new evidence-based framework that links actions to outcomes, supports local communities, and guides smarter decision-making.
Beyond the Numbers: Measuring Conservation Impact in Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta
At first glance, conservation can look like a numbers game—flights logged for aerial wildlife counts, wetlands restored, or kilometers patrolled on foot. But these numbers, while essential, don’t always answer the deeper question: To what extent are we directly helping ecosystems stay healthy, reducing pressures on wildlife, and mitigating the threats to our conservation goals?
That’s the question the Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) set out to answer with its new Impact Measurement Framework. The first pilot was launched in May 2025 in Marromeu Reserve, located in Mozambique’s Zambezi Delta— one of Africa’s most important wetland ecosystems. The framework provides a structured way to look beyond ecological monitoring and track long-term results based on causal inference. These might include the recovery of floodplain habitats, a decline in elephant poaching, or improved land-use practices in nearby communities.
FZS has been tracking the effects of its conservation work for decades, but until now, much of this monitoring and evaluation has been tailored to individual projects or contexts. The introduction of a more standardized and scalable approach builds on this foundation, allowing comparisons across landscapes and clearer learning over time.
Critically, FZS’s long-term commitment to places like the Zambezi Delta makes this possible. Understanding ecological and social dynamics takes time — years, sometimes decades — and it’s this sustained presence that enables teams to distinguish between short-term fluctuations and meaningful trends.
What sets this approach apart is its focus on cause-and-effect reasoning. It’s not enough to know that wildlife numbers are up—we need to understand the reasons behind it. Was it better law enforcement? A change in community behavior? Or just a seasonal variation? This kind of thinking helps conservation teams identify which actions truly drive positive change, and which may not be as effective as expected.
In order to guarantee comparability across very different landscapes, the framework is based on the internationally recognized Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, which guide teams in setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and adapting strategies based on clearly defined result chains— a process known as adaptive management.
Just as important as protecting ecosystems is supporting the well-being of the people who live within and around them. In the Zambezi Delta, many families rely on natural resources for farming, fishing, and grazing. The new framework includes ways to evaluate how conservation supports sustainable livelihoods, involves communities in decision-making, and reduces human-wildlife conflict — for example, through local patrol partnerships or participatory land-use planning. These social indicators are essential for ensuring that conservation efforts are not only effective but also equitable and inclusive.
Conservation often relies on assumptions – that our chosen actions are the right ones, and are making a difference. But without a clear understanding of cause and effect, we often don’t know how efficient or effective our actions actually are… this framework helps us honestly interrogate what’s working, what isn’t, and why – so we can make better decisions for nature and people.
This pilot in Marromeu is the first rollout planned by FZS through 2025, followed by Peru, and Tanzania. It was developed in close collaboration with Mozambique’s National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Alcedo Conservation, and local field teams. As data from the pilot accumulates, FZS and its partners will use it to refine strategies, reallocate resources where they have the most value, and better understand what works — and why. The long-term goal: to build a global model for conservation that is grounded in evidence, shaped by people on the ground, and responsive to the challenges ahead.
Having a structured way to measure impact helps us stay accountable to FZS’s strategic goal of doubling impact—fostering internal learning while enhancing accountability to donors, communities, and the ecosystems we work with. It shifts the focus from monitoring to evaluation and ultimately strengthens the effectiveness of our conservation work.
This pilot was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the FZS MEL team, including Tommaso Cassiani, Freja Larsen, Shanyal Uqaili who worked closely with Dennis Rentsch as Deputy Africa Director, FZS Mozambique team and our local institutional partners (ANAC and Reserve management) to ensure the framework is practical, scalable, and locally grounded.