A high-powered team of experts from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) held a meeting with the SADC Food Agriculture & Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate in Gaborone, Botswana on 6 February 2018 to discuss areas of collaboration between the two organisations.
The IUCN Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO), Mr Luther Bois Anukur headed the team of IUCN experts in strategic partnerships, biodiversity conservation, water conservation and management of drylands.
The meeting discussed progress in the implementation of projects under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organisations. The projects discussed include Biodiversity and Protected Area Management (BIOPAMA) Project support to SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas Programme Network, Kalahari Namib Project on strengthening capacity for sustainable management of drylands; and Water Governance and Management.
As a way forward, the meeting agreed to update and amend the MOU, notably to include collaboration in the implementation of Regional Strategic and Action Plan (RSAP IV) on Integrated Water Resources Management and Development as well as jointly develop a 2-year action plan to facilitate implementation of the MOU. The action plan will include the following among others: Forest Landscape Restoration; Communities as first line of defense in combatting illegal wildlife trade; Marine and Fisheries; Protected Area Governance, Green growth along development corridors; Integrated Water Resources Management and Development; and Sustainable Land Management.
From Left to Right: Ms Kaori Yasuda (IUCN strategic partnerships Coordinator), Ms Deborah Kahatano (SADC SPO Natural Resources and Wildlife), Dr Mampiti Matete (IUCN Country Representative, South Africa), Ms Palesa Mokorosi (IUCN Senior Programme Officer, Water), Mr Domingos Gove (Director, SADC Food Agriculture and Natural Resources), Mr. Luther Dios Anukur (IUCN Director, Eastern and Southern Africa), Sibongile Mavimbela (SADC SPO Environment and Climate Change), Dr. Roba Guyo (IUCN Senior Programme Officer, Global Drylands Initiative) Mr. Leo Niskanen (IUCN Technical Coordinator, Conservation Areas and Species Diversity programme) and Tawanda Gotosa (Technical Advisor, SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas)
