AN interministerial meeting between the Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South African Ministers of Tourism & Environmental Affairs will be held early in May to approve and sign a draft concept plan and a draft international agreement which will allow for the development of a transfrontier park between the three countries.
This according to Leo Braak, general manager of scientific services at the Kruger National Park (KNP) and a member of the International Transfrontier Conservation Area Technical Committee (TCTC), which was appointed to draw up the draft concept plan and the draft international agreement.
If the ministers approve the drafts, the TCTC will also be responsible for the two-year planning phase.
The TCTC constitutes David Mabunda, Director of KNP, Dr Steve Thiba from the Department of Environmental and Tourism Affairs in South Africa, Leo Braak, Arlito Cuco, National Director of the DNFFB - Mozambique's wildlife department and Moses Choto head of Zimbabwe's National Parks and Wildlife Department.
Braak told Travel Now that he was positive the concept would be approved, if only in principle, since the "partner countries were showing clear political support."
He says the size of the area identified is approximately 100 000 square kilometres (which translates into 10 million hectares).
Although no clear plan has been identified yet, it is envisaged that the area will be managed for "sustainable resource use" which in time, will become an international major eco-tourism destination, predicts Braak.
"There will be multiple land use areas, which will be fenced in or out, and will be used for demarcated purposes such as hunting, tourism development, and more," he explains.
Once the drafts are approved, the planning process will begin, with a 2002 deadline set to ensure that the public and other interested parties are widely consulted.
(Adele Mackenzie)
