TFCA Network Meeting March 2017 - Meeting report

In September 2013, a learning and innovation network was set up under the auspices of SADC as per Component 4 of the SADC TFCA Programme (2013). The programme promotes the establishment and development of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) as a conservation and development model across the region and component 4 specifically envisions the establishment of an information exchange, learning and innovation network to facilitate the gathering, processing and dissemination of TFCA related information to stakeholders. By March 2017, this network had over 250 members registered on the online portal from a range of stakeholder groups including governmental Protected Area (PA) management agencies, NGOs, International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), private sector representatives and academia from the SADC countries and further abroad. The primary purpose of the network as determined by members is, “to overcome TFCA challenges through shared learning, knowledge management and collaboration”. A Steering Committee (SC) comprising TFCA focal points from the SADC Member States (MS) and SADC Secretariat guide activities of the network which to date have included face to face meetings, development of an online information exchange platform (portal), representation at the IUCN World Parks Congress and CITES COP17, development of several sets of guidelines and establishment of several Communities of Practise on specific topics.

This meeting was held from 22-24 March in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa (agenda available in Annex 1). Twelve (12) SADC Member States (MS) were represented at the meeting including Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Five (5) TFCAs were represented through the presence of their International Coordinators/Secretariats including Great Limpopo TFCA, Greater Mapungubwe TFCA, Kavango Zambezi TFCA, Maloti Drakensberg TFCA and Malawi Zambia TFCA. Together with representation from several NGOs, academic institutions, consultants and International Cooperating Partners (ICPs), there was a total of 66 participants at the meeting (full participant list available in Annex 2).

This report provides an overview of the meeting, its processes and discussions and is meant to be a reference document for all participants. Full presentations from the presenters can be found on the network intranet (www.tfcaportal.org).