SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES FOR
THE TFCAS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
PRESENTATION TO THE IUCN WORKSHOP
OUTLINE
• SUCCESSES
–
–
–
–
BACKGROUND
LEGAL MANDATE
NUMBER OF TFCAs
MILESTONES
• TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
• CHALLENGES
• PRIORITY AREAS
BACKGROUND
The TFCA programme seeks to:
• Foster trans-national collaboration and co-operation for
effective management of shared ecosystems;
• Promote alliances in the management natural resources
by encouraging social, economic and other
partnerships;
• Develop cross-border eco-tourism as a means of
fostering regional socio-economic development.
• Establish mechanisms to facilitate exchange of
technical, scientific and legal information for the joint
management of ecosystems.
LEGAL MANDATE
• The legal foundation for the establishment,
development and management of TFCAs is the SADC
Protocol on Wildlife and Law Enforcement Article 4(f).
• All international agreements establishing the TFCAs
are based on that Protocol.
• The agreements are also informed by other relevant
instruments e.g.
– SADC protocols related to NRM, shared river basins,
and water resources;
– MEAs that promote international collaboration in the
management of shared natural resources
LEGAL MANDATE
• The principal signatories to the international agreements
on the TFCAs are the Political Heads of Government
Departments/Ministries.
• In terms of the provisions of South African Constitution
DEA has the mandate with the approval of the President
to enter into international agreements on the
establishment of TFCAs.
NUMBER OF TFCAs
TFCA
COUNTRIES
STATUS
Kgalagadi Transfrontier
Park
Botswana, South
Africa
Mozambique, South
Africa, Zimbabwe
Namibia, South
Africa
Lesotho, South
Africa
Mozambique, South
Africa, Swaziland
Botswana, South
Africa, Zimbabwe
Agreement signed 2000
Great Limpopo
Transfrontier Park
/Ai-/Ais Richtesveld
Transfrontier Park
Maloti –Drakensberg
TFCA
Lubombo TFCA
Greater Mapungubwe
TFCA
MoU signed 2000
Treaty signed 2002
MoU signed 2001
Treaty signed 2003
MoU signed 2001
Protocols signed 2000
MoU signed 2006
MILESTONES
• Development and implementation of joint conservation
management and tourism development plans (guide
management of TFCAs as integrated units)
• Development of joint governance structures such as
Joint Management Boards, Technical Committees,
thematic working groups
• Dropping of fences in strategic areas to improve free
movement of wildlife in the ecosystem ranges
• Establishment of cross border tourist access facilities
(Giriyondo, Mata Mata, Twee Rivieren, Sendelingsdrift)
MILESTONES
• Development of Boundless Southern Africa, a marketing
brand for TFCA. Its purpose is to market and promote
TFCA in a consolidated and coordinated manner
(launched in 2008, registered with RETOSA).
• Packaging and promotion of investment opportunities in
TFCAs.
Kavango-Zambezi
GLTP
TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
CHALLENGES
• Lack of financial commitment from other countries to
facilitate the TFCA initiative
• Lack of funds for infrastructure development.
• Land claims in some areas
• Escalating cost for incorporating private land into the
TFCAs
• Political instability in some countries
• Land use conflict in some areas (i.e. conservation,
agriculture or mining)
PRIORITY AREAS
• Formulation of implementable policies and/or strategies
on conservation issues that transcend national
boundaries
• Wildlife exchange programmes and translocations
• Control of AIS, disease control and fire management
• Cross border research
• Cross border law enforcement
• Regulation of driving 4 X 4 vehicles and quad bikes on
environmentally sensitive areas
• Implementation of UNIVISA
PRIORITY AREAS
• Establishment of TFCA Trust Fund
• Establish cross border tourist access facilities (Greater
Mapungubwe, Lubombo, Maloti-Drakensberg)
• Full implementation of the TFCA brand (awareness
raising and active marketing of TFCAs)
• Establishment of central reservation system
• Investment promotion in an effort to secure investors
for the packaged projects.
• Infrastructure development
• Establishment of central communication systems in
TFCAs
CONCLUSION
The priority areas are common to most of the TFCAs.
– Need to develop a clear programme of action to
achieve all of these in order to realize full potential of
TFCAs
– Some of the areas may require the amendment or
SADC Protocols
– Collaboration of member states is critical.
THANK YOU!