Transfrontier Conservation Areas

There are over 220 Transboundary / Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) globally, with 14 located in Southern Africa. These 14 SADC approved TFCAs cover over 1 million square kilometers which is 7% of SADC land in 11 of SADC's 16 countries. The main objective is to reconnect natural landscapes that cross country borders, to improve conservation and sustainable rural development. About one-third of the world’s richest land-based biodiversity areas are found along international borders.

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 ten 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!

Gallery

TFCA International Conference and Summit, Harare May 2025: SADC Heads of State arrive at the TFCA Summit

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Visit a TransFrontier Park today

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

News

Youth from Lubombo TFCA Spark Community Dialogue Through Solar Cinema
Rorly Sherwen / 7 August 2025
The Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti (COSPE), facilitated and is implementing a grant supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica / Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme – a partnership between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU), and the German Government. COSPE is working with 4 youth changemakers, Beketele Mfuma, Mahlu’Bandile Dlamini, Nothando Manyisa, and Baptisa Bisqeute (aged 19–29) from Eswatini and Mozambique. Through a collaboration with Sunshine Cinema, these youth have been...

Meet the New SADC TFCA Advisor: Colum Zhuwau
Rorly Sherwen / 4 August 2025
Mr. Colum Zhuwao has joined IUCN ESARO, and seconded as the SADC TFCA Advisor to the SADC Secretariat based in Gaborone, Botswana. He is a seasoned Ecologist with over 15 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, policy development, and project implementation at both national and regional levels. He began his career in 2005 with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), where he served in several strategic roles including National Rhino Coordinator, CITES-MIKE Focal Point, and Coordinator of the...

Zambia and Angola Seal Historic Conservation Pact to Establish Liuwa Plains–Mussuma Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 4 August 2025
In a landmark move for conservation and regional cooperation, the governments of Zambia and Angola signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 28 May 2025to pave the way for the establishment of the Liuwa Plains–Mussuma Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) The high-profile signing ceremony took place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, drawing senior government officials, diplomats, conservation leaders, and media representatives. The agreement marks a major step in creating a transboundary protected landscape spanning approximately 14,464 km² across the...

More news

Want to see your news here?

Click here to add your news to the TFCA website.

Visit a TransFrontier Park today

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

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 ten 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

Youth from Lubombo TFCA Spark Community Dialogue Through Solar Cinema
Rorly Sherwen / 7 August 2025
The Cooperazione per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti (COSPE), facilitated and is implementing a grant supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica / Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme – a partnership between the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the European Union (EU), and the German Government. COSPE is working with 4 youth changemakers, Beketele Mfuma, Mahlu’Bandile Dlamini, Nothando Manyisa, and Baptisa Bisqeute (aged 19–29) from Eswatini and Mozambique. Through a collaboration with Sunshine Cinema, these youth have been...

Meet the New SADC TFCA Advisor: Colum Zhuwau
Rorly Sherwen / 4 August 2025
Mr. Colum Zhuwao has joined IUCN ESARO, and seconded as the SADC TFCA Advisor to the SADC Secretariat based in Gaborone, Botswana. He is a seasoned Ecologist with over 15 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, policy development, and project implementation at both national and regional levels. He began his career in 2005 with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), where he served in several strategic roles including National Rhino Coordinator, CITES-MIKE Focal Point, and Coordinator of the...

Zambia and Angola Seal Historic Conservation Pact to Establish Liuwa Plains–Mussuma Transfrontier Conservation Area
Rorly Sherwen / 4 August 2025
In a landmark move for conservation and regional cooperation, the governments of Zambia and Angola signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 28 May 2025to pave the way for the establishment of the Liuwa Plains–Mussuma Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) The high-profile signing ceremony took place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, drawing senior government officials, diplomats, conservation leaders, and media representatives. The agreement marks a major step in creating a transboundary protected landscape spanning approximately 14,464 km² across the...

More news