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Carbon Project [© 2008 Shayne Fuller]
Programmes
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PEACE PARKS PROGRAMMES

The programmes differ from the projects in that they encompass more than one peace park and rather include many, if not all southern Africa's TFCAs.  The Climate Change Programme, TFCA Veterinary Programme and Ecosystem Services are run by Peace Parks Foundation, whereas Boundless Southern Africa was launched and is run by nine southern African countries.  They all set out to achieve the best not only  for the region's TFCAs, but also for the partner countries and its people.
 

TFCA Veterinary Programme (TFCA-VP)


Programmes | something... [© 2009 Peace Parks Foundation]

Since antiquity, animal diseases in Africa have had an impact on wildlife, livestock and human settlement patterns. Food security, sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity can all be adversely affected by the inadequate control of animal diseases. While the responsibility of disease control globally lies with the government of each country, in the African context resources and the capacity to control animal diseases vary considerably from country to country.

The spreading of diseases across international borders, particularly where partner countries are aiming to establish TFCAs, needs to be carefully monitored and controlled. Peace Parks Foundation, through its TFCA-VP, supports TFCA partner countries in the integration and coordination of their disease control strategies.

Programmes | something... [© 2007 Peace Parks Foundation]

Veterinary control policies

The TFCA-VP regularly participates in discussions between government veterinary authorities regarding veterinary policies to manage transboundary disease risks and to promote integrated and/or complementary disease control policies within and between countries.

Research and surveillance networks

An MoU with the University of Pretoria, SANParks and other institutions allows access to vast research networks, infrastructure and expertise, enabling the analysis of disease risks at the wildlife/livestock/human interface.

The TFCA-VP also participates in formal and informal networks relevant to important veterinary issues in TFCAs, particularly those related to bovine tuberculosis and foot-and-mouth disease.


Information management

One of the critical needs identified by the three partner countries of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is integrated information management by its veterinary wildlife role-players. The Foundation is supporting a major project to address this need, including:
Programmes | something... [© 2006 Peace Parks Foundation]
  • DARTS
  • Generic data-capture software allowing the electronic capture of wildlife-specific veterinary data
  • A central data repository enabling instant sharing of data between DARTS users from various countries and organisations
  • Websites
  • TFCA-VP website
  • Discussion forum for participants of interface health group in Greater Limpopo
  • Disease-information websites with forum capabilities providing lay and scientific information as well as links (the content is managed by disease experts and/or disease workgroups)
  • System administration
  • A dedicated system administrator was appointed to maintain the system and provide user support.

Project support

Programmes | something... [© 2007 Peace Parks Foundation]Financial and logistical assistance is provided to various critical veterinary projects and role-players in Great Limpopo, including:
  • Disease surveys in buffaloes by integrated teams from different organisations / countries spanning the borders between the stakeholder countries and reflecting transfrontier veterinary cooperation;
  • Tuberculosis surveys in cattle in certain Great Limpopo interface areas;
  • Administrative support to key role-players; and
  • Support for human resources.











Hans Hoheisen Wildlife Research Station

Programmes | something... [© 2006 Peace Parks Foundation]In order to address the identified need to play an integral supportive role in critical veterinary research projects conducted in Great Limpopo by research teams from national and international institutions, the Foundation entered into an MoU with the Limpopo provincial government to restore, upgrade and manage the research station.

The research station has excellent facilities to conduct wildlife research and was built in the 1980s on land donated by the late Mr Hans Hoheisen.