Three African Nations Create Joint Conservation Area
10/24/99
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Title: 3 African nations create joint conservation area
Source: Agence France-Press
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: October 24, 1999
PRETORIA (October 24, 1999 2:00 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) -
Neighboring South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have agreed to
jointly manage three nature reserves, creating a trans-border
conservation area, the environment ministry Sunday.
Ministers from the countries met in Maputo during the weekend to sign
an agreement pooling the management of South Africa's Kruger National
Park, Mozambique's Gaza Park and Zimbabwe's Gonarezhou Park, it said.
The agreement "notes that ecosystems transcend national boundaries"
and recognizes "the need for trans-border co-operation in the
conservation and management of the shared natural resources."
The new Transfrontier Conservation Areas agreement aims to "promote
biodiversity and socioeconomic development in the area," the
statement said.
South African Environmental Affairs Minister Valli Moosa, Mozambican
Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Carlos Agostinho d'Rosario and
Zimbabwe's Deputy Environment Minister Edward Chindori-Chininga
signed the accord.
A technical committee will oversee the implementation of the
agreement.