MR SEDIA MODISE

Mr Modise is the Regional Coordinator for Africa's largest peace park, the Kavango-Zambezi TFCA. The MoU toward the establishment of this TFCA was signed by the governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe on 7 December 2006.

Before that, Mr Modise was the International Coordinator for the Limpopo/Shashe TFCA, where it was his responsibility to bring together the various role-players in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe to facilitate the signing of a cooperation agreement leading to the establishment of that TFCA.

Mr Modise started his career in conservation as a junior officer in Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks. His interest in and dedication to conservation was soon recognised and led to him being identified for training in wildlife management at Mweka College in Tanzania.

As Senior Game Warden and Head of the Wildlife Conservation Education Unit, he excelled in training junior staff and establishing school-based wildlife clubs. He started a new unit responsible for planning and coordinating development activities while serving as Regional Game Warden, before becoming Assistant Director and first Head of the National Parks Division. In this capacity he formulated policies to administer the national parks and game reserves. During his term as Deputy Director, he developed programmes that ensured the involvement of rural communities in the management of their natural resources.

In 1996 Mr Modise was appointed Botswana's Director of Wildlife and National Parks, where he provided leadership on all matters related to conservation and management of wildlife resources. He formulated, and ensured the effective implementation of, all policies, programmes and strategies associated with wildlife. He also participated in the drafting of a community-based natural resources management policy and the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement. Another of the many achievements during this time is his participation as an African environmental specialist in discussions with ex-President Clinton of the USA.

As leader of the Botswana delegation that successfully negotiated the bilateral agreement that led to the establishment of Africa's first peace park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, as well as coordinating the trilateral agreement for the Limpopo/Shashe TFCA, Mr Modise is well equipped to ensure the success of what is set to become the world's biggest conservation area, the Kavango-Zambezi TFCA.