Making Necklaces to Change Lifestyles and Preserve Wildlife

In a bid to help poachers lead greener lifestyles, conservation officials in Zambia have turned to a novel trend in jewelry making — snarewear, in which snares once used for poaching are transformed into handmade necklaces, bracelets and other decorative items.

More than 40,000 former poachers have joined a co-op called Community Markets for Conservation, or Comaco, which allows them to exchange snares for training in organic farming, beekeeping, gardening and carpentry, said Dr. Dale Lewis of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The program has collected more than 40,000 snares since 2002 and grossed more than $350,000 last year; the proceeds are shared by the former poachers and Comaco, Dr. Lewis said.

Source: nytimes