The Trans-Boundary Protected Areas Research Initiative

The Initiative

The Initiative is a collaborative venture between Carnegie Mellon University’s (Pittsburgh, USA) Centre for Integrated Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change, and the Wits School for the Environment (WISE) of the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg).

Close relations and partnerships exist with a number of other southern African, European and American universities and non-governmental agencies.

The first research phase (beginning 2003 to June 2004) will have the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP) and the wider Great Limpopo Conservation Area (GLCA) as a pilot case study (Limpopo Heartland). A TBPA Research Unit will be based at Wits University.

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Research Orientation

The Initiative will conduct integrated assessments of TBPAs in southern Africa as coupled human-environment systems that operate across scales and boundaries. Its objective will be to assess the nature of the social and natural transformations brought about by TBPAs. It will also aim at providing and independent research service and to make critical and constructive contributions to the policy decision-making process. It will focus on environmental sustainability as well as issues of social justice.

Research Objectives

Research projects include integrated assessments of the following:

The eco-regional planning framework and linkages between planning processes across scales and boundaries;

Historical vulnerabilities and adaptation of local people to climate variability, resource limitations and political ecologies;

The social and economic framework of the GLTCA, with an emphasis on land ownership and land reform;

Tourism development and community-based tourism initiatives launched in the GLTP area over the last decade, with special emphasis of Community-Public Private Partnerships;

The decision-making process and governance.

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Key References:

Van der Linde, H.,Ê Oglethorpe, J., Sandwith, T., Snelson, D., Tessema, Y., Tiega, A and Price, T., 2001. Beyond Boundaries: Transboundary Natural Resource Management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Biodiversity Support Progamme. Publication number 127.

WWF/USAID/WRI.

Jones, B.T.B. & Chonguica, E. 2001. Review and analysis of specific transboundary natural resource management initiatives in the southern African region. Paper no. 2. IUCN-Rosa series on transboundary natural resource management.

Katerere, Y., Hill, R., & Moyo, S. 2001. A critique of transboundary natural resource management in southern Africa. Paper no. 1.

IUCN-Rosa series on transboundary natural resource management.

Mayoral-Phillips, A.J.z (undated) Transboundary areas in southern Africa: Meeting the needs of conservation or development?

Zbicz, D. 1999. Transfrontier Ecosystems and Internationally Adjoining Protected Areas. (Global list of adjoining protected areas).

Other References:

The Center for Integrated Study of the Human Dimensions of Global Change at Carnegie-Mellon University

Contacts:

Prof Robert Thornton: mailto:thorntonr@social.wits.ac.za

South African head of research - Wits Department of Social Anthropology

Dr Conrad Steenkamp: mailto:cis@andrew.cmu.edu

Research Coordinator – CMU Centre for Integrated Study of Human Dimensions of Global Change

Unjinee Poonan: mailto:upoonan@iafrica.com

Senior researcher – University of the Witwatersrand

Useful links:

Peace Parks Foundation

African Wildlife Foundation

Conservation International

South African Department of Foreign Affairs

South African Dept of Environmental Affairs & Tourism

South African National Parks

Official GLTP website

United Nations Environment Programme & World Conservation Monitoring Centre