2009-06-26 : CLIMATE CHANGE MOU SIGNED FOR ZAMBIAN COMPONENT OF KAZA TFCA

On Wednesday, 24 June the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Teddy Kasonso signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Werner Myburgh, CEO of Peace Parks Foundation to jointly implement a climate change programme in the Zambian component of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA).

KAZA TFCA is situated in the Okavango and Zambezi river basins where the borders of Angola,Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge.

A TFCA, as defined in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement, is ‘the area or component of a large ecological region that straddles the boundaries of two or more countries, encompassing one or more protected areas as well as multiple resource use areas.'

The Climate Change Programme, to be implemented by the Government of Zambia and facilitated by Peace Parks Foundation, will consist of two broad components:

• The development of land-use change activities on the ground (avoided deforestation, forest rehabilitation and fire management) that will provide benefits to local communities through alternative livelihoods and income streams, as well as private sector investment and employment opportunities; and
• The development of a financial vehicle that will ensure the inclusive, transparent sale of generated carbon offsets and the flow of generated income streams to deserving parties on the ground.
  

Negotiations on the programme have been comprehensive and participatory, involving communities, traditional authorities, government and local government agencies. The implementation of the climate change programme will continue in the same vein of broad stakeholder participation.

Peace Parks Foundation's facilitation role in the Climate Change Programme was given momentum thanks to the Dutch Postcode Lottery's munificent donation early in 2008.