Creation of KaZa park a daunting challenge

A LOT of work lies ahead for the creation of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KaZa-TFCA), set to be largest cross-border conservation project in the world.

“This is not an overnight project. It is not even a project, it is a big programme,” Sedia Modise, the regional co-ordinator based in Botswana, told The Namibian on Tuesday.Modise is a wildlife biologist and before he was appointed by the South African-based Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) to head KaZa, he was the international co-ordinator for the Limpopo/Shashe TFCA between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.At the moment, said Modise, he was busy seeking donor funds to enable him set up a secretariat for the KaZa project.He has already completed a draft funding proposal and another one for the governance structure outlining how KaZa will be governed, which has to be matched with the Memorandum of Understanding the five countries signed on December 7 last year.He said it was also important that National Steering Committees for the KaZa project are established in all involved countries to help with the implementation of the project on the ground.However, Modise said there was a lot of support from donors and he was hopeful that the project will be realised.He said a donor conference might be organised.Modise said it was crucial that rural people and all stakeholders understand the KaZa project and the benefits it will bring, as it may also bring about challenges such as human-wildlife conflict.Involved countries should also be patient and respect each other, as some countries might be slow in implementing the project.”This is a big programme and it is also complex, as you have many countries involved,” he said.Botswana is currently the KaZa project co-ordinator, a responsibility that will be rotated among the participating countries.The project involves Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia and it is based on the sustainable use of resources of the Kavango and Zambezi river ecosystems.KaZa is a massive tourism attraction initiative and it will be the largest trans-frontier conservation area in the world.The KaZa area, measuring 280 000 square kilometres, includes 22 protected areas.These include the Okavango Delta and Chobe River system in Botswana; the Mudumu and Mamili National Parks and the soon to be proclaimed Bwabwata National Park, conservancies and community forests in Namibia; the Luiana Partial Reserve, Mukosso Luenge, Luiana and Longa-Mavinga Coutadas in Angola; the Kafue, Sioma Ngwezi and Mosi-a-Tunya National Parks and the West Zambezi game management area in Zambia; the Hwange, Zambezi, Victoria Falls and Kazuma Pan National Parks in Zimbabwe.Other areas of important for game migration may be added at a later stage.A study done in 2005 revealed that existing accommodation facilities within the KaZa region has the capacity to house 8 312 guests each night.Tour operators are able to accommodate 2 926 guests a day.Namibia has two other agreements with its neighbours on transfrontier parks.On August 1 2003, Namibia and South Africa officially agreed to establish the Ai-Ais Richtersveld transfrontier park, covering an area of 6 046 square kilometres.On the same date, Namibia and Angola signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Iona-Skeleton Coast transfrontier conservation area, encompassing an area of 31 540 square kilometres.The world’s first transboundary park was established in 1932, when the US and Canada merged their Wateron National Park and Glacier National Park.It is not even a project, it is a big programme,” Sedia Modise, the regional co-ordinator based in Botswana, told The Namibian on Tuesday.Modise is a wildlife biologist and before he was appointed by the South African-based Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) to head KaZa, he was the international co-ordinator for the Limpopo/Shashe TFCA between Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.At the moment, said Modise, he was busy seeking donor funds to enable him set up a secretariat for the KaZa project.He has already completed a draft funding proposal and another one for the governance structure outlining how KaZa will be governed, which has to be matched with the Memorandum of Understanding the five countries signed on December 7 last year.He said it was also important that National Steering Committees for the KaZa project are established in all involved countries to help with the implementation of the project on the ground.However, Modise said there was a lot of support from donors and he was hopeful that the project will be realised.He said a donor conference might be organised.Modise said it was crucial that rural people and all stakeholders understand the KaZa project and the benefits it will bring, as it may also bring about challenges such as human-wildlife conflict.Involved countries should also be patient and respect each other, as some countries might be slow in implementing the project.”This is a big programme and it is also complex, as you have many countries involved,” he said.Botswana is currently the KaZa project co-ordinator, a responsibility that will be rotated among the participating countries.The project involves Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia and it is based on the sustainable use of resources of the Kavango and Zambezi river ecosystems.KaZa is a massive tourism attraction initiative and it will be the largest trans-frontier conservation area in the world.The KaZa area, measuring 280 000 square kilometres, includes 22 protected areas.These include the Okavango Delta and Chobe River system in Botswana; the Mudumu and Mamili National Parks and the soon to be proclaimed Bwabwata National Park, conservancies and community forests in Namibia; the Luiana Partial Reserve, Mukosso Luenge, Luiana and Longa-Mavinga Coutadas in Angola; the Kafue, Sioma Ngwezi and Mosi-a-Tunya National Parks and the West Zambezi game management area in Zambia; the Hwange, Zambezi, Victoria Falls and Kazuma Pan National Parks in Zimbabwe.Other areas of important for game migration may be added at a later stage.A study done in 2005 revealed that existing accommodation facilities within the KaZa region has the capacity to house 8 312 guests each night.Tour operators are able to accommodate 2 926 guests a day.Namibia has two other agreements with its neighbours on transfrontier parks.On August 1 2003, Namibia and South Africa officially agreed to establish the Ai-Ais Richtersveld transfrontier park, covering an area of 6 046 square kilometres.On the same date, Namibia and Angola signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Iona-Skeleton Coast transfrontier conservation area, encompassing an area of 31 540 square kilometres.The world’s first transboundary park was established in 1932, when the US and Canada merged their Wateron National Park and Glacier National Park.