Transfrontier Conservation Areas

The Southern African Development Community has created 14 Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across country borders covering 940 000 square kilometers which is 10% of SADC land in 11 of SADC's 16 countries. The SADC TFCA program hopes to reconnect natural landscapes by improving transboundary conservation, supporting sustainable rural development and building climate change resilience in the region. The TFCA program is part of SADC's regional integration vision.

The TFCA Network

The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.

Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.

The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:

  • Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
  • Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
  • Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
More
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!

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Safari on the Run: Mapungubwe Wildrun®

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Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today

If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs  
TOURISM in KAZA  

News

SADC TFCA program launches a TFCA Finance Community of Practice
Steve Collins / 16 October 2025
The TFCA Finance Community of Practice (CoP) is a new platform for practitioners, partners, and policymakers to connect, share experiences, and build capacity for financing transfrontier conservation and sustainable landscapes in the SADC region. Launched following the Summit Report-Back webinar of 26 August, the CoP brings together stakeholders engaged in the design and implementation of financial mechanisms that support TFCAs, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.

Madagascar Reaffirms Commitment to Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 13 October 2025
Antananarivo, Madagascar – 4 September 2025 Madagascar has reinforced its commitment to establishing a Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), signalling strong political support for regional marine conservation and sustainable development. The announcement came during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Dialogue on TFCAs, held from 3–4 September 2025 in Antananarivo. The event was organised by the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate with support Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership...

Southern African Wildlife College Hosts a SADC TFCA Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange in the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA)
Rorly Sherwen / 29 September 2025
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), in partnership with the African Leadership University – School of Wildlife Conservation (ALU-SOWC), and African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI), Stellenbosch University hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation (TFCA) Area Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange on Wildlife-Based Economy (WBE) and Livelihoods in the South Africa component of the GLTFCA from 31 August to 06 September 2025. Supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between SADC,...

More news

Want to see your news here?

Click here to add your news to the TFCA website.

Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today

If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs  
TOURISM in KAZA  

The TFCA Network

The SADC TFCA Network is a community of practice that brings together professionals working in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across a wide range of sectors contributing to SADC's regional sustainable rural development programme.

Recognising the shared challenges faced by TFCAs and aligned with the SADC TFCA vision, the Network was established on 25–26 September 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by TFCA coordinators, representatives from international NGOs, and practitioners from the SADC Member States.

The Network aims to address several key common challenges, including:

  • Strengthening governance through improved policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks
  • Developing sustainable financing mechanisms for TFCAs
  • Demonstrating the value of TFCAs at local, national, and regional levels—for example, by enhancing community benefits and supporting capacity development.
More
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!

News

SADC TFCA program launches a TFCA Finance Community of Practice
Steve Collins / 16 October 2025
The TFCA Finance Community of Practice (CoP) is a new platform for practitioners, partners, and policymakers to connect, share experiences, and build capacity for financing transfrontier conservation and sustainable landscapes in the SADC region. Launched following the Summit Report-Back webinar of 26 August, the CoP brings together stakeholders engaged in the design and implementation of financial mechanisms that support TFCAs, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.

Madagascar Reaffirms Commitment to Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 13 October 2025
Antananarivo, Madagascar – 4 September 2025 Madagascar has reinforced its commitment to establishing a Marine Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), signalling strong political support for regional marine conservation and sustainable development. The announcement came during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) National Dialogue on TFCAs, held from 3–4 September 2025 in Antananarivo. The event was organised by the SADC Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate with support Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership...

Southern African Wildlife College Hosts a SADC TFCA Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange in the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA)
Rorly Sherwen / 29 September 2025
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), in partnership with the African Leadership University – School of Wildlife Conservation (ALU-SOWC), and African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI), Stellenbosch University hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation (TFCA) Area Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange on Wildlife-Based Economy (WBE) and Livelihoods in the South Africa component of the GLTFCA from 31 August to 06 September 2025. Supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between SADC,...

More news