Successes and challenges for the TFCAs in Southern Africa

1. Successes and challenges for the TFCAs in Southern Africa PRESENTATION TO THE IUCN workshop

2. OUTLINE • SUCCESSES • BACKGROUND • LEGAL MANDATE • NUMBER OF TFCAs • MILESTONES • TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY • CHALLENGES • PRIORITY AREAS

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. NUMBER OF TFCAs

7. 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)

8. 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.

9. Kavango-Zambezi GLTP Limpopo-Shase Kgalagadi Lubombo AI/Ais –Richtersveld MDTP TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

10. TFCA DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY BEYOND 2010 2010

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. THANK YOU!