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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 the 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.
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!
Upcoming events
IUCN World Conservation Congress
09 - 15 October 2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
More
Africa Biodiversity Summit
02 - 06 November 2025
Gaborone Botswana
More
2nd International Conference on Agriculture & Natural Resources
17 - 18 November 2025
Rome, Italy
More
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Click here to add your events to the TFCA calendar.List your job for free
Add your job listing to the TFCA website and reach a community of professionals in your field.Recently added to the Repository
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Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today
If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs 
TOURISM in KAZA
News
Southern African Wildlife College Hosts a SADC TFCA Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange in the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA)
Rorly Sherwen / 29 September 2025
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), in partnership with the African Leadership University – School of Wildlife Conservation (ALU-SOWC), and African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI), Stellenbosch University hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation (TFCA) Area Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange on Wildlife-Based Economy (WBE) and Livelihoods in the South Africa component of the GLTFCA from 31 August to 06 September 2025.
Supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between SADC,...
SADC TFCA Webinar: Disaster Risk Reduction and Natural Resources Governance
Rorly Sherwen / 24 September 2025
Dear SADC TFCA Network,
We are hosting the first of many SADC TFCA Network Webinar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Natural Resources Governance! On the 25 September 2025 at 14:30-16:00 (CAT).
This session will provide a platform for TFCAs and partners to share their disaster risk reduction experiences and interventions. As SADC region experiences increase in droughts, floods, wildfires, and zoonic diseases driven by climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, the contribution of TFCA’s as bearers and gatekeepers in...
Boundless Southern Africa Showcases the Power of Cross-Border Tourism with the GLTFCA Adventure Trophy
Rorly Sherwen / 24 September 2025
Boundless Southern Africa, with support from 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, and the German Government, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), celebrated the successful completion of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) Adventure Trophy. Held from 30 August to 07 September 2025, the event spanned three partner states: Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
This pioneering adventure showcased the...
More news
Want to see your news here?
Click here to add your news to the TFCA website.
Visit a TransFrontier Conservation Area today
If you're interested in visiting one of the Transfrontier conservation areas, here are some great links to help you on your journey:
TOURISM in TFCAs
TOURISM in KAZA
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 the 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.
Become a member of the TFCA Network and join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals. Click here to join now!
News
Southern African Wildlife College Hosts a SADC TFCA Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange in the Great Limpopo TFCA (GLTFCA)
Rorly Sherwen / 29 September 2025
The Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), in partnership with the African Leadership University – School of Wildlife Conservation (ALU-SOWC), and African Wildlife Economy Institute (AWEI), Stellenbosch University hosted a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation (TFCA) Area Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange on Wildlife-Based Economy (WBE) and Livelihoods in the South Africa component of the GLTFCA from 31 August to 06 September 2025.
Supported by the Joint Action NaturAfrica/Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management (C-NRM) Programme - a partnership programme between SADC,...
SADC TFCA Webinar: Disaster Risk Reduction and Natural Resources Governance
Rorly Sherwen / 24 September 2025
Dear SADC TFCA Network,
We are hosting the first of many SADC TFCA Network Webinar on Disaster Risk Reduction and Natural Resources Governance! On the 25 September 2025 at 14:30-16:00 (CAT).
This session will provide a platform for TFCAs and partners to share their disaster risk reduction experiences and interventions. As SADC region experiences increase in droughts, floods, wildfires, and zoonic diseases driven by climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic vulnerabilities, the contribution of TFCA’s as bearers and gatekeepers in...
Boundless Southern Africa Showcases the Power of Cross-Border Tourism with the GLTFCA Adventure Trophy
Rorly Sherwen / 24 September 2025
Boundless Southern Africa, with support from 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, and the German Government, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), celebrated the successful completion of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) Adventure Trophy. Held from 30 August to 07 September 2025, the event spanned three partner states: Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
This pioneering adventure showcased the...
More news
Upcoming events
IUCN World Conservation Congress
09 - 15 October 2025
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
More
Africa Biodiversity Summit
02 - 06 November 2025
Gaborone Botswana
More
2nd International Conference on Agriculture & Natural Resources
17 - 18 November 2025
Rome, Italy
More
Recently added to the Repository
The Natural Resource Governance Framework
Governance
Tools
Governance is a critical determinant of the social equity, effectiveness and sustainability of natural resource use and conservation. Improving natural resource governance, including securing rights and sharing power and responsibilities, benefits both people and nature. Despite this, governance remains relatively...
More
Natural Resource Governance Tool, Version 2
Conservation
Strategy and guides
This second version incorporates: a) improved understanding of the power to govern and the addition of diversity as a sub-attribute of authority, b) updated data collection and data management methods using KoboToolBox on tablet computers, and c) revision of the...
More
Enhancing climate change mitigation in protected areas - IUCN
Climate Change
Strategy and guides
The World Commission on Protected Areas (WPCA) has long recognised the importance
of biodiversity and climate change as dual crises that can only be effectively addressed by
managing for both. It is this nexus that creates the imperative to include climate change
mitigation...
More
