Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA)

A Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in Southern Africa is an area straddling across two or more international borders where the natural and cultural resources are collaboratively managed by the governments/authorities involved.   A Transfrontier Park (TFP) is an area where two or more protected areas are adjoined and collaboratively managed across the international borders.

The Objectives of TFCAs are Ecological, Socio-Economic and Governance based.

Ecologically, to:

• Re- establish key ecological functions previously disrupted by limitations of opposing land uses and management principles across the borders;
• Re-establish seasonal migration routes for wildlife;
• Support /WRM management by promoting basin-wide approaches to the management of international rivers and wetlands.

Socio-economic ally to:

• Promote growth of the tourism sector specifically cross-border tourism;
• Increase the economies of scale for economic activities such as eco-tourism, and natural resource based enterprises;
• Promote cultural linkages between countries in the region. People are often linked across borders by kinship, language and culture.

In terms of Governance, to:

• Strengthen regional integration and cooperation;
• Promote peace and harmony.

Region’s position on TFCAs.

The SADC Council of Ministers in June 2005 in South Africa, endorsed a strategy to position TFCAs as Southern Africa’s premier tourist destination. The strategy was adopted by the Ministers responsible  for tourism in Angola, Botswana,  Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
South Africa was given a mandate to establish a structure that will oversee the implementation of the strategy.

The purpose of the TFCA 2010 Development Strategy is to position TFCAs as favourable tourist and investment destinations in South Africa.

The Objectives of the Strategy are to:

• Spread across the region, the benefits of hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup to place Southern Africa;
• Use the FIFA World Cup to place Southern Africa tourism opportunities in the global spotlight;
• Initiate a long-term investment and marketing strategy for TFCAs.

TFCA 2010 in Phases

Phase 1: 2007-2010

• Focuses on 7 TFCAs cutting across 9 countries

Phase 1 TFCA Selection criteria used were:

• Proximity to the host country
• Ease of access
• Diversity of accommodation facilities
• Structural governance at an advances stage

Phase2: Beyond 2010 – Covering all SADC Member States

Actual TFCA Focus Areas are:

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