Zambia became a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993 (Zimbabwe 1994), agreeing to abide by the CBD’s three objectives: 1) the conservation of biodiversity; 2) the sustainable use of biodiversity; 3) the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources; therefore suporting the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets (to halt the loss of biodiversity), knowing that in the last 40 years the vertebrate population in the tropics has been reduced by 59 per cent. There are five Aichi Goals and 20 Targets, but Target 16 states that ‘by 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation’. The Nagoya Protocol is of massive importance both to the biodiversity and to those living under customary tenure, people also once the former usufruct owners of the present National Park and National Forest protected system. But although Zimbabwe and Zambia have not yet ratified the Protocol, they are already bound by Target 16. The CBD is therefore quite clear in that biocultural rights and historical stewardship is recognised as a form of ownership. This greatly alters the way we view National Parks where the former occupiers have been removed, or where they still reside. And it must diminish the highly centralised State control of protected areas – including customary area where GMAs are placed. And it severely question the right of the State to issue mining licenses when the Chiefs have rejected mining.