GREAT LIMPOPO TRANSFRONTIER PARK (GLTP) AND CONSERVATION AREA (GLTFCA)

GREAT LIMPOPO TRANSFRONTIER PARK (GLTP) AND CONSERVATION AREA (GLTFCA)

PURPOSE OF TALK

To provide broad overview of salient ecological and socio-economic issues pertaining to the Great Limpopo Trans Frontier Conservation Area, and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park

GLTFCA

KEY ISSUES

PROCESS PEOPLE WILDLIFE: Translocation, Fence, “Migration”

GLTFCA

INCLUDES GLTP, INTERSTITIAL AREAS in MOZ, BANHINE NATIONAL PARK, ZINAVE NATIONAL PARK, As well as Kruger to Canyon Biosphere Reserve to west of KNP, Sengwe corridor in Zimbabwe

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

2 million ha Highly developed infrastructure Relatively Well Watered, WILDLIFE Established Management Regime Residents, live in Staff Villages Makuleke Region: Contractual Park

LIMPOPO NATIONAL PARK, MOZ

Nearly half of the area is sandveld covered by mopane, ironwood and broadleaf savanna. Largely waterless in dry season, apart from Shingwedzi and Limpopo rivers Very little wildlife currently occurs in the area. No infrastructure Some 27 000 people live in the Park

GhonarheZhou, Zimbabwe

“Intermediate” stage of development Current tensions

BANHINE NATIONAL PARK

SPECTACULAR WETLAND SYSTEM 2000 PEOPLE, SYSTEM OF REGULATED LAND USE,

BANHINE

BANHINE

PROCESS

GLTP- Driven by ngo, donor, political leadership, steering committee Peace Parks Foundation, German KfW Ahead of “on-the-ground” process

PROCESS (contd)

People in LNP all but ignored initially Eg LNP proclaimed, elephant release, fence “cutting” prior to engagement with communities High level of Publicity, Belated process of engagement

PROCESS (contd)

“Sanctuary” established PROGNOSIS:- approx 4-5 year process of engagement, negotiation around ‘voluntary’ resettlement

PEOPLE, LNP

LNP- 27000 people resident Maize, beans, livestock, woodland products, remittances, migratory labour Shingwedzi key for people, tourism and wildlife

PEOPLE (contd)

Voluntary resettlement plan Boundary refinement (zones)

PEOPLE, BANHINE NP

Villages in WOODLAND Pans and Permanent Floodplain used for drought survival Strictly Controlled Access, under traditional authority, mistaken for “terra nullius” Sustainable now and next 10 years or so at reasonable projection, eg wood use within 2 km radius, fields rotated, sanctions on natural products, only 2000 people

BANHINE

BANHINE

BANHINE, “survival cropping”

WILDLIFE

The Fences KNP-LNP KNP-Zimbabwe KNP-west LNP-Banhine-Zinave

WILDLIFE (contd)

What Migration??? Relocation vs gradual colonisation Water point- Policy 1 The “Sanctuary” in LNP Banhine and Zinave:- negotiated introduction of non-dangerous animals

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Addressing people’s needs Sustainability: Unlikely that most components will be “profitable”. OPTIONS: GEF, Endowment funding, debt for nature swaps, or what…