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

PURPOSE OF TALKPURPOSE OF TALK

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

GLTFCAGLTFCA

KEY ISSUESKEY ISSUES

PROCESSPROCESS PEOPLEPEOPLE WILDLIFE: Translocation, Fence, WILDLIFE: Translocation, Fence,

“Migration”“Migration”

GLTFCAGLTFCA

INCLUDES GLTP, INTERSTITIAL INCLUDES GLTP, INTERSTITIAL AREAS in MOZ, BANHINE NATIONAL AREAS in MOZ, BANHINE NATIONAL PARK, ZINAVE NATIONAL PARK, PARK, ZINAVE NATIONAL PARK,

As well as Kruger to Canyon Biosphere As well as Kruger to Canyon Biosphere Reserve to west of KNP, Sengwe Reserve to west of KNP, Sengwe corridor in Zimbabwecorridor in Zimbabwe

KRUGER NATIONAL PARKKRUGER NATIONAL PARK

2 million ha2 million ha Highly developed infrastructureHighly developed infrastructure Relatively Well Watered, WILDLIFERelatively Well Watered, WILDLIFE Established Management RegimeEstablished Management Regime Residents, live in Staff VillagesResidents, live in Staff Villages Makuleke Region: Contractual ParkMakuleke Region: Contractual Park

LIMPOPO NATIONAL LIMPOPO NATIONAL PARK, MOZPARK, MOZ

Nearly half of the area is sandveld covered by Nearly half of the area is sandveld covered by mopane, ironwood and broadleaf savanna. mopane, ironwood and broadleaf savanna.

Largely waterless in dry season, apart from Largely waterless in dry season, apart from Shingwedzi and Limpopo rivers Shingwedzi and Limpopo rivers

Very little wildlife currently occurs in the area. Very little wildlife currently occurs in the area. No infrastructureNo infrastructure Some 27 000 people live in the Park Some 27 000 people live in the Park

GhonarheZhou, GhonarheZhou, ZimbabweZimbabwe

““Intermediate” stage of developmentIntermediate” stage of development Current tensionsCurrent tensions

BANHINE NATIONAL PARKBANHINE NATIONAL PARK

SPECTACULAR WETLAND SYSTEMSPECTACULAR WETLAND SYSTEM 2000 PEOPLE, SYSTEM OF 2000 PEOPLE, SYSTEM OF

REGULATED LAND USE, REGULATED LAND USE,

BANHINEBANHINE

BANHINEBANHINE

PROCESSPROCESS

GLTP- Driven by ngo, donor, political GLTP- Driven by ngo, donor, political leadership, steering committeeleadership, steering committee

Peace Parks Foundation, German KfWPeace Parks Foundation, German KfW Ahead of “on-the-ground” processAhead of “on-the-ground” process

PROCESS (contd)PROCESS (contd)

People in LNP all but ignored initiallyPeople in LNP all but ignored initially Eg LNP proclaimed, elephant release, Eg LNP proclaimed, elephant release,

fence “cutting” prior to engagement with fence “cutting” prior to engagement with communitiescommunities

High level of Publicity, High level of Publicity, Belated process of engagementBelated process of engagement

PROCESS (contd)PROCESS (contd)

““Sanctuary” establishedSanctuary” established PROGNOSIS:- approx 4-5 year process PROGNOSIS:- approx 4-5 year process

of engagement, negotiation around of engagement, negotiation around ‘voluntary’ resettlement‘voluntary’ resettlement

PEOPLE, LNPPEOPLE, LNP

LNP- 27000 people residentLNP- 27000 people resident Maize, beans, livestock, woodland Maize, beans, livestock, woodland

products, remittances, migratory labourproducts, remittances, migratory labour Shingwedzi key for people, tourism and Shingwedzi key for people, tourism and

wildlife wildlife

PEOPLE (contd)PEOPLE (contd)

Voluntary resettlement planVoluntary resettlement plan Boundary refinement (zones)Boundary refinement (zones)

PEOPLE, BANHINE NPPEOPLE, BANHINE NP

Villages in WOODLANDVillages in WOODLAND Pans and Permanent Floodplain used for Pans and Permanent Floodplain used for

drought survivaldrought survival Strictly Controlled Access, under traditional Strictly Controlled Access, under traditional

authority, mistaken for “terra nullius”authority, mistaken for “terra nullius” Sustainable now and next 10 years or so at Sustainable now and next 10 years or so at

reasonable projection, eg wood use within 2 reasonable projection, eg wood use within 2 km radius, fields rotated, sanctions on natural km radius, fields rotated, sanctions on natural products, only 2000 peopleproducts, only 2000 people

BANHINEBANHINE

BANHINEBANHINE

BANHINE, “survival BANHINE, “survival cropping”cropping”

WILDLIFEWILDLIFE

The FencesThe Fences KNP-LNPKNP-LNP KNP-ZimbabweKNP-Zimbabwe KNP-westKNP-west LNP-Banhine-ZinaveLNP-Banhine-Zinave

WILDLIFE (contd)WILDLIFE (contd)

What Migration???What Migration??? Relocation vs gradual colonisationRelocation vs gradual colonisation Water point- Policy 1Water point- Policy 1 The “Sanctuary” in LNPThe “Sanctuary” in LNP Banhine and Zinave:- negotiated Banhine and Zinave:- negotiated

introduction of non-dangerous animalsintroduction of non-dangerous animals

CONCLUDING REMARKSCONCLUDING REMARKS

Addressing people’s needsAddressing people’s needs Sustainability: Unlikely that most Sustainability: Unlikely that most

components will be “profitable”.components will be “profitable”. OPTIONS: GEF, Endowment funding, OPTIONS: GEF, Endowment funding,

debt for nature swaps, or what… debt for nature swaps, or what…