The Opportunity: Transboundary economic, ecological, social and cultural and political collaboration across sectors and disciplines. Ecologically maintaining and/or restoring linkages in ecological land- scapes that cross borders, and reducing transboundary threats to promote sustainable use of natural resources. Socially and culturally renewal of cooperation and cultural ties among communities served by borders, and increased welfare and development opportunities for populations.
Economically the development of regional economic opportunities such as tourism, and economies of working on a larger scale. Politically improved security in border areas and enhanced transparency and accountability in the use of natural resources.
Our Partners: The Biodiversity Support Program (BSP) a consortium of the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy and World Resources Institute, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with dozens of protected area specialists and government and community leaders from throughout Southern Africa.
The Journey: Interviews, country learning journey visits, stakeholder workshops over a year period. Conducted an 11 country strategic planning process in Southern Africa focused on the development of large scale transboundary collaborative conservation initiatives with participation of private sector, non-profit (NGO), donor, community and government organizations. Designed and facilitated several multiple stakeholder workshops with representatives from various organizations and countries, with meetings in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Result: Development of guidelines and strategies for taking advantage of the rapidly growing interest in transboundary natural resource management (TBNRM) as a way to improve natural resource management and biodiversity conservation, and promote regional economic development. These guidelines influenced regional and global conservation efforts in these larger collaborative efforts. Millions of dollars of new conservation and economic development resources leveraged and directed. An important new tool in broad landscape approaches to sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation; a way to promote regional economic development, reunite divided communities and bring peace to troubled regions; and a way to fulfill many other opportunities.