An unexpected moment at a prestigious gathering marked the highlight of Professor Andrew Nambota’s career. His face registering surprise, he stepped up to the podium to receive a Gold Medal for Excellent Efforts from the Royal Patriotic Society of Sweden for his visionary leadership in conservation and community empowerment in Southern Africa.
The award was presented by Christina von Arbin, Chair at the annual Mandela Talks hosted by the Swedish Postcode Lottery.
For more than three decades, Professor Nambota has stood by a simple yet powerful belief – conservation works best when communities are at the heart of it.
From his early days tackling livestock diseases to helping shape vast cross-border landscapes as Peace Parks Regional Manager: North, he has shown that when people are empowered, nature thrives too.
“This honour is not mine alone – it belongs to every community member, colleague and student who believed that conservation could be a shared journey. I’ve simply walked alongside them,” said Professor Nambota.
Putting communities at the heart of conservation
The Gold Medal for Excellent Efforts recognises significant contributions made to education, charity and business. It is presented for long and faithful service, or for meritorious deeds that benefit the common good.
Trained as a veterinarian, Professor Nambota’s journey has taken him across continents and disciplines. With advanced studies in Zambia, Kenya, the USA and Japan, he has deepened our understanding of animal health and wildlife diseases and shared that knowledge by mentoring countless students and researchers in Southern Africa.
Since the 1980s, he has helped shape Zambia’s wildlife and tourism sectors, with communities always at the centre. His journey with Peace Parks Foundation began in 2007, bringing the same spirit of collaboration in his work with the Zambia Wildlife Authority. At the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, he helped connect Zambia’s conservation efforts into a broader regional vision – linking protected areas across borders.
Connecting landscapes and people
In his current role as Peace Parks Regional Manager for northern transboundary landscapes (Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), he has been instrumental in turning shared landscapes into shining examples of what collaborative conservation can achieve.
As a founding member of the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area Network, Professor Nambota continues to shape conservation practice across the continent. His work in the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, Malawi – Zambia and the Greater Mana Pools Ecosystems reflects a deep commitment to solutions that support both people and nature.
A shared legacy
Professor Nambota’s lifelong achievement is a reminder that conservation is not just about preserving nature but about nurturing the bonds between people and the landscapes they call home.
His recognition with this award reflects the enduring partnerships he built – where collaboration, trust and belief in the strength of communities have helped shaped conservation.
