Southern African nations to manage conservation across borders

From the newsletter

Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe have signed a new treaty to establish the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. The agreement will enable the three countries to coordinate their efforts to protect biodiversity, reduce habitat degradation and manage shared heritage sites.

• The conservation area will include the Northern Tuli Game Reserve in Botswana, Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site in South Africa, and Zimbabwe’s Tuli Circle Safari Area, along with Maramani and adjacent Wildlife Management Areas.

• The Mapungubwe treaty uniquely integrates conservation with cultural heritage protection and cross-border livelihoods, unlike previous agreements that focused primarily on ecosystems or law enforcement. It promotes joint governance based on a shared identity and addresses the increasing human-wildlife conflict in the region.

More details

• While the treaty aims to formalise cross-border collaboration on ecosystem management, it also provides a framework for balancing conservation goals with livelihood needs in ecologically sensitive yet economically marginalised areas. The project seeks to facilitate the free movement of wildlife, protect ancient cultural sites, and generate income through tourism and related enterprises. Each country will maintain management of its national parks and reserves, but strategies will be harmonised under the shared treaty.

• “The people in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area share common values, interests, and cultural ties,” said Information Minister Jenfan Muswere from Zimbabwe. “This treaty enables us to collaborate on strategies that protect biodiversity, manage cultural heritage, and support sustainable development. It promotes ecosystem integrity, reduces human-wildlife conflict, and improves livelihoods through conservation.”

• Communities in the region face serious challenges, including human-wildlife conflict. The agreement builds on existing regional collaborations under the Southern African Development Community’s transfrontier conservation programme. Officials from all three countries have committed to establishing joint governance mechanisms, funding models, and monitoring systems to ensure the long-term protection of the area.

• The Greater Mapungubwe treaty introduces strategies that are not commonly found in earlier transboundary conservation agreements. Previous treaties, such as those for Mount Elgon between Kenya and Uganda and Boma–Gambella between South Sudan and Ethiopia, focused primarily on joint ecosystems, biodiversity and security. In contrast, Mapungubwe is notable for its integration of heritage protection, livelihoods and shared governance, grounded in cultural identity across national borders.

• The Greater Mapungubwe treaty enhances the transboundary conservation model by linking biodiversity protection with shared governance and cross-border livelihoods. It incorporates joint planning rooted in cultural identity and integrates sustainable land use and tourism to alleviate pressure on ecosystems. This approach includes community-led strategies that directly address local challenges such as human-wildlife conflict while safeguarding heritage and supporting long-term 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.