At the outset, six TFCAs on the borders of South Africa were identified. Progress on these has been phenomenal and international agreements regarding the development of all six have been signed and they are in various stages of development. The best known of these is the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which links the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as two areas between Kruger and Gonarezhou, namely the Sengwe communal land in Zimbabwe and the Makuleke region in South Africa. As part of the development of the transfrontier park, the million ha Limpopo National Park was proclaimed in 2001 and demined. Substantial funding was secured for the development of the park, which includes the building of tourism facilities and infrastructure and the deployment of field rangers. It also includes the dropping of fences and the relocation of some 6 000 wild animals toward creating the worldís greatest animal kingdom.

Further areas of focus

The initial successes resulted in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Tourism commissioning a feasibility study of potential and existing peace parks in the SADC region, which was completed in 2002.  The study found that there were 22 existing or potential TFCA sites covering approximately 48 per cent of the total area that is formally protected by the continental SADC Member States and that enjoy the support of the authorities in the region. They include various major biomes and eco-regions, which mean an important contribution to biodiversity. The diversity of wildlife in these areas will attract tourists and form the basis for sustainable economic development. Peace Parks Foundation has identified 14 TFCA clusters as the most viable for development at the present time and has been requested to assist governments in the development of ten of these. International agreements for 10 of the proposed 14 transfrontier conservation areas in SADC have already been signed. Should all 14 TFCAs be developed, it will bring the total area of SADC TFCAs to about 75 million hectares, which is roughly the size of Germany, Italy and Portugal combined.


International peace parks

Peace Parks Foundation's experience in facilitating the establishment of peace parks in Southern Africa has led to it being requested to give advice to countries establishing TFCAs in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South Africa.
Its Founding Patron Dr Nelson Mandela has been involved in discussions to create a peace park in the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea. This zone is still home to Siberian tigers and Asian leopards, and is also an important nesting area of rare crane bird species.

According to a study by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), there are 227 potential transfrontier conservation areas worldwide.