The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold a major international conference and Heads of State summit on Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Harare from 19 to 23 May 2025.
The event will take place at the Harare International Conference Centre under the theme: “Transfrontier Conservation Areas – 25 Years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.”
The summit marks a significant milestone in regional efforts to preserve biodiversity, promote eco-tourism, and strengthen cross-border conservation initiatives.
TFCAs are protected areas that span national borders, encouraging cooperation between countries to manage natural resources sustainably while boosting economic opportunities for local communities.
The five-day event is expected to bring together Heads of State and Government from SADC Member States, alongside traditional leaders, conservation partners, international organisations, and sectoral experts.
Key objectives of the summit include reinforcing political support for the TFCA programme, encouraging investment, and promoting collaboration across sectors to drive sustainable development in the region.
The conference is supported by the NaturAfrica / Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management in the SADC (C-NRM) Programme, a Joint Action co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
This builds on over two decades of EU-Germany cooperation with SADC to support TFCA development through both technical and financial assistance.
The Joint Action will also host key sessions during the summit, focusing on tourism development in conservation areas and disaster risk reduction.
Expected outcomes from the summit include the adoption of an action plan to strengthen the TFCA programme, new agreements to establish additional cross-border conservation areas, joint management frameworks, and sustainable financing deals with international partners.
The summit is seen as a reaffirmation of SADC’s long-standing commitment to regional integration through environmental stewardship.
It also seeks to place local communities at the centre of conservation, recognising their vital role in protecting Southern Africa’s rich biodiversity and building a sustainable future.
Back to top