Project overview: Transboundary conservation is a major new focus

From the newsletter

Our quarterly analysis of new projects in African conservation highlights two significant cross-border initiatives. They areTransboundary conservation is increasingly recognised as a strategy for enhancing climate resilience. The first project, funded by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), is the $96 million Kenya and Zambezi Basin initiative, which spans six countries and connects ecosystems through sustainable forestry and carbon markets.

• A second project, in the Kafue Zambezi Community Forest, aims to conserve 1.9 million hectares of woodland shared between Zambia and Angola with 280,000 individuals involved.

• Beyond transboundary initiative, our project overview also logs local initiatives in Kenya and Tanzania that advance nature-based solutions to protect biodiversity and strengthen community livelihoods.

More details

• Part of the $96 million CIF funding supports Kenya's Nature, People and Climate project, which aims to protect wildlife, Indigenous communities, and key ecosystems in Lake Victoria and the River Ewaso Ng’iro. This initiative is expected to enhance ecotourism, a sector that contributes 8.2% to Kenya’s GDP, and will support the Maasai and other Indigenous groups through nature-based solutions.

• The second portion of the funding is allocated to the Zambezi Basin project, which encompasses Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zambia. This initiative aims to engage private sector players in voluntary carbon markets, strengthen sustainable forestry and wildlife conservation, and provide alternative livelihoods for communities affected by deforestation and climate change. It will also direct $15 million to Indigenous and local communities across the six countries.

• In March 2025, the World Bank, through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, provided a $180 million guarantee to Koko Networks to support forest conservation through clean cooking initiatives. This funding aims to strengthen and expand Koko's carbon credit and financing efforts in Kenya and Rwanda, promoting sustainability and environmental protection with the involvement of local communities.

• The World Wide Fund for Nature Kenya, in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association, secured $10 million from the European Union. The Harmony in Habitat: Empowering Communities for Nature’s Resilience project supports conservancies in Kenya’s Tsavo and Mara landscapes. This initiative aims to strengthen governance, develop ecosystem management plans for forests, water catchments, and rangelands, and promote sustainable livelihoods in forestry, rangeland management, and ecotourism.

• In Tanzania, in February 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, in partnership with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, launched the Scaling-up Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Change Resilience in Tanzania (RESOLVE-NbS) project. This initiative has a budget of $6 million and will run from 2025 to 2027, aiming to enhance climate resilience through nature-based solutions, with a strong focus on community-driven adaptation efforts in the Morogoro and Iringa regions, benefiting over 30,000 individuals.

• The Kafue Zambezi Community Forest Project was launched on March 14, 2025, by Peace Parks in partnership with various stakeholders. This project aims to conserve 1.9 million hectares of indigenous forest by 2028. By integrating local leadership, it empowers 280,000 people to adopt sustainable livelihoods while preserving the vital forest catchments of the Kafue and Zambezi rivers.

Our take

• Africa’s vast landscapes are home to migratory species that require continuous habitats. Transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs) play a crucial role in ensuring their protection across political boundaries. Research released in September 2023 mapped Africa’s TBCAs, identifying 27 existing areas and 8,481 potential sites, covering nearly 2,000,000 km².

• Shared conservation responsibilities foster international cooperation, strengthening diplomatic ties and aiding conflict resolution. Countries can benefit from pooling resources, expertise, and funding to manage protected areas more effectively. Furthermore, TBCAs promote sustainable tourism, generating employment and economic incentives for local communities.

• The future of conservation in Africa depends on the expansion of TBCAs. Although there are challenges related to establishment costs and governance, coordinated efforts can lead to long-term ecological and economic benefits.