Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Tourism in Transfrontier Conservation
Areas: The Kavango-Zambezi TFCA
Helen Suich
Introduction
Transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) are areas of land and/or sea that strad-
dle international (or sub-national) borders, that are jointly or cooperatively
managed for conservation and/or sustainable natural resource utilization.
Recognizing that borders are political rather than ecological, such initiatives aim
to ensure that key ecological processes continue to function where such borders
have divided ecosystems, river basins and/or wildlife migration routes. Although
there are various definitions and categories of TFCAs, they can all be managed
jointly or cooperatively, using legal or other effective means. In southern Africa,
TFCAs are usually developed in anticipation of the achievement of multiple
objectives, most commonly relating to biodiversity conservation, local economic
development and the promotion of peace and cooperation across international
borders (see World Bank, 1996; Griffin et al, 1999; SADC, 1999; Hanks, 2002;
IUCN, 2003).
At least 22 sites have been identified in southern Africa as having the potential
to become transfrontier parks or TFCAs (Hall-Martin and Modise, 2002).
(Transfrontier parks typically include only state protected areas, differing from
TFCAs which can include a variety of conservation and multiple use areas under
different land tenures - including state protected areas, game and wildlife
management areas, forest reserves, community and private conservation areas,
etc.). Both types of initiatives are being given increasing levels of support from
stakeholders including governments, donors and non-government organizations
(NGOs), and have been endorsed by both the New Partnership for African
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