Gamekeeper training in the SADC region

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The member states of the SADC region are currently developing 18 transboundary terrestrial protected areas (TFCAs), 6 of which have already been established through a signed protocol or an interstate treaty. TFCAs are therefore playing an increasingly important role in the SADC region in managing critical ecosystems and key animal species across borders, implementing the concept of biodiversity conservation through sustainable use and promoting the foundations of developing cross-border tourism. They therefore make an important contribution to reducing poverty among the rural population in structurally weak areas by improving the basis for alternative income opportunities. However, due to insufficient training capacity and financial resources, there is a lack of game rangers (WMRs) in the SADC region who can use their skills and knowledge to meet the requirements of managing TFCAs. The aim of the FC measure is therefore to ensure that there are a sufficient number of well-trained wildlife managers and game rangers in the SADC region who are able to successfully manage transboundary protected areas. The focus of the FC measures is on improving the training offer, including by expanding the corresponding infrastructure and financially supporting the demand for training for WMR. As agreed in the government negotiations in July 2013 between Germany and SADC, the project will initially focus on training WMR for the two cross-border protected areas Great Limpopo and KAZA. Together, these two TFCAs account for around 60% of the TFCAs in the SADC region and represent a neighboring population of more than 1 million people. The total cost of the project for all 18 SADC TFCAs is estimated at around EUR 35 million at the time of the study. The FC funding share of the total costs initially amounts to around EUR 10 million, which was already pledged during the government negotiations in 2011; EUR 4 million of this is to be used to expand the SAWC. This will enable a self-contained FC project to be financed that covers the WMR requirements for the TFCAs KAZA and GLP. In the medium term (for the TFCA in the SADC region) we expect a required FC contribution of EUR 25 million in total (stock check part EUR 15 million). The SAWC's share of the total costs will be around EUR 2.45 million. The share of other partner states' financing will be defined over the course of the project and will relate in particular to a commitment to finance subsequent training measures as well as management and maintenance costs for decentralized training infrastructure.