Bio-diversity

The Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park GLTP) is arguably the world`s greatest animal kingdom which covers 35000 square kilometers. The Park was created through the signing of the Great Limpopo Trans-Frontier Park Treaty by three heads of States that include Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. The GLTP offers very good opportunities for having a strategic project that is also trans-boundary. The land adjacent to the GLTP, forms the Trans-frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) and includes private properties and communal land areas. The local communities derive their livelihoods from a diversity of forest and wildlife resources. The communities include the Sengwe, Mahenye, Tshovane, Gudo, Chitsa, Chizvirizvi and Chibememe communities in Zimbabwe. In Mozambique, there are the Chiqualaquala, Mapai, Massingir and Magendene communities. Lastly in South Africa, there are the Makuleke, Mahinga, Venda and Bushbark communities among others. OVERALL GOAL To improve the quality of life of communities living in the GLTP/TFCA by building their capacity to participate in and derive benefits from sutainable management of biodiversity in the GLTP/TFCA. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1) To promote community awareness of the GLTP/TFCA initiative through sharing information on biodiversity management, poverty reduction and sustainable development. 2) To empower local communities and community based organizations to lead their own development process relating to biodiversity management and land degradation. 3) To promote strategic partnership between local communities and various stakeholders for the achievement of sustainable development 4) To promote sustainable livelihood projects as integral parts of the GLTP/TFCA initiative. PROJECT RESULTS 1) Community awreness and networking promoted within the GLTP/TFCA initiative 2) Regional networking and information sharing among the three countries that include Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa enhanced. 3) CBOs and local communities` capacity to manage and participate in regional initiatives strengthened. 4) At policy level, strategic partnerships and co-management arrangements in place 5) Biodiversity in the form of flora and fauna conserved leading to improved livelihoods of the local communities.

Zimbabwe