SADC to launch conservation brand

Article published courtesy of BuaNews, 13/02/2008

A unifying brand for nature conservation areas across borders in Southern Africa, is to be launched in Durban later this year.

Ministers from the Southern African Development Community met in Gauteng on Monday to discuss infrastructure and the investment in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs).

At the meeting a strategic brand for TFCAs was discussed and from the talks, it was decided the brand will be launched on 10 May 2008 in Durban, South Africa.

It will form the basis for awareness and advocacy campaigns and the active marketing of TFCAs.

The Ministers and senior officials taking part were from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Their talks focused on progress in the implementation of the TFCA development strategy for 2010 and beyond.

Marketing premier tourism

The strategy, which was endorsed by the Ministers in 2005, is designed to position TFCAs as Southern Africa's premier tourism destination.

Talks also included the development of an investment catalogue which will be a guide containing important information for potential investors such as why invest in TFCAs, how to invest in TFCAs, investment opportunities, investment incentives and contact information.

They also discussed hosting a TFCA Investment Conference from 20 - 21 October 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa.

This will be with the aim of marketing investment opportunities in TFCAs.

Environmental concerns

The ministers expressed concern at the ecological damage caused to beaches and other environmentally sensitive areas by quad bikes and 4x4s mainly from South Africa.

The regulation of such activities in South Africa has resulted in more pressures on ecologically sensitive areas in neighboring countries.

They asked South Africa to assist in putting a stop to this damaging activity.

It is being considered to develop a protocol for the region to manage or regulate these activities, which are already regulated in South Africa.

There was also further agreement on the need to prioritise conservation issues such as wildlife exchange programmes and translocation and cross-border research programmes.

Ministers however raised concern about the process of implementing the UNIVISA as it has a direct impact on the success of TFCAs in terms of facilitating the easy flow of tourists in the region.

In conclusion, these countries agreed on the need to work together in promoting ecotourism and the conservation of natural resources.

The ministers will meet again in the near future to discuss progress in addressing these issues.