Dear SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area Stakeholder,

Thank you for your interest in our latest newsletter. We have a lot of news to share that demonstrate how countries in SADC see the value of transfrontier conservation and development planning as well as working together to implement each TFCAs vision. 

In this issue you can read more about the signing of the ZIMOZA (Zimbabwe/Mozambique/Zambia) TFCA Agreement by the respective countries Heads of State. ZIMOZA has been on the cards for 30 years and following a recent boost diplomatic dialogue between the three countries was given birth in July 2024. The high-level political support for TFCAs comes in part from the KAZA Heads of State Summit held in June 2024 where the value of country-to-country co-operation focussed on conservation and rural development was highlighted and endorsed, as well as the development of the revised SADC TFCA Programme 2023-2033.

The KAZA Summit also gave impetus to the KAZA UNIVISA project, which is also giving traction to a possible SADC UNIVISA, which is being trailed in several countries. Once implemented, these will enable easier tourism access to all countries and to enable them to enjoy the benefit of cross-border community and nature-based tourism.

Eco-tourism remains an important vehicle for community beneficiation through the creation of tourism linked jobs and revenue for local goods and services. Thankfully, tourism which took a dive during the Covid 19 pandemic is returning and will contribute to SADC Members States economies. In line with this, the new KAZA Tourism Brand was launched at the recent KAZA Summit.

In this newsletter, we also highlight the recent translocation of large mammals between countries as part of the TFCA programme. These attempts at rewilding are enabled by good country to country relationships and a common vision for the landscapes on both sides of international borders.

The TFCA Network has held two webinars this year, on Human Wildlife Conflict and on TFCAs Confronting Climate Change. We plan to have another two this year focussed on the Wildlife-Based Economy and another on the Sustainable Financing of TFCAs. If you have not registered to attend, please do so in the link under upcoming events and if you missed the previous two, please find link to the TFCA Network YouTube Channel HERE

You can find all articles online at www.tfcaportal.org.

Thank you for your efforts to build a more sustainable and inclusive Southern Africa by supporting the TFCA vision and programme.

Yours in sustainable rural development,

Steve Collins

SADC TFCA Network Coordinator