Policy harmonisation boosts transboundary conservation

From the newsletter

Policy harmonisation has become key to advancing transboundary conservation in Africa. West Africa has launched the first ever regional strategy for the conservation of pangolins. The strategy, published by IUCN’s Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group, sets out a 30-year roadmap to guide conservation action across the region. 

• The strategy, titled the West Africa Regional Pangolin Conservation Action Plan (2026–2056) follows an earlier launch of the SADC Vulture Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035) in September 2025.

• A recent report by IUCN on large scale transboundary conservation warns that fragmented policies will not counter biodiversity loss and Africa seems to be closing that loophole.

More details

• The pangolin strategy provides a 30-year roadmap for pangolin conservation across 11 West African range states. Formally launched at CITES CoP20 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, it is the first regional action plan for any African pangolin species, aiming to reverse severe population declines caused by habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

• The plan covers three threatened pangolin species: the white-bellied, black-bellied and giant pangolins. It was shaped through a March 2023 Accra workshop involving 85 stakeholders with support from USAID and Fauna & Flora. Structured around six threats and 16 goals, it offers a harmonised and evidence-based framework for protecting these species.

• The SADC Vulture Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035), launched in September 2025, is a ten-year regional plan to halt the rapid decline of vultures in Southern Africa. It sets out measures to address mass poisoning, electrocution, collisions with energy infrastructure and widespread habitat loss. It has four priorities: reducing threats, improving data and conservation measures, engaging stakeholders and ensuring effective implementation across borders.

• Formal policy harmonisation is essential for conservation in Africa. It tackles transboundary threats such as poaching and habitat loss. It helps countries share resources and manage ecosystems. It supports coordinated climate action and regional economic benefits. Aligning laws makes conservation stronger, fairer, and more sustainable for future generations.

• In Central Africa, the Convergence Plan of the Central African Forests Commission demonstrates how harmonised policies can guide countries sharing the Congo Basin to manage forests sustainably. It links national forest programmes to a common regional framework, ensuring consistency in legislation, monitoring, and enforcement. This model shows how policy convergence can overcome fragmented approaches.

• Harmonisation means progressive adjustments to address shared challenges while respecting national contexts. Through collective guidelines and technical standards, Central African countries have advanced towards coordinated forest governance. Their experience illustrates the value of structured policy alignment for biodiversity conservation, resource security, and regional stability.

Our take

• The continent saves more and earns more when ecosystems and economies are managed beyond lines on a map. Transboundary conservation areas show that shared parks mean shared profits. 

• Coordinated resource use cuts duplication and waste. By managing nature jointly, Africa reduces costs and boosts regional stability.