Partners Officially Launch the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Project, Strengthening Long-Term Transboundary Conservation and Community Resilience
Gaborone, Botswana, 12 May 2026 — Today marks the launch of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) Project, a new European Union-funded initiative aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation, protected area management and community resilience across one of southern Africa’s most significant transboundary landscapes. Partial funding for the project was also provided by the Dezzy Foundation through the Global Wildlife Fund.
The project, titled ‘Integrated Management for Biodiversity Conservation and Community Resilience in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park’, is funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway Flagship initiative NaturAfrica for Transfrontier Conservation Areas in the SADC region. It is implemented by African Parks, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and in close collaboration with the Governments of Botswana and South Africa.
The official launch follows the signing of the grant agreement between IUCN and African Parks in March 2026 and marks the start of a 30 month initiative focused on strengthening institutional capacity, improving operational effectiveness and laying the foundations for long-term, collaborative management of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Established more than 25 years ago by the governments of Botswana and South Africa, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was the first Transfrontier Conservation Area in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The park represents a shared commitment to cross border cooperation in conserving natural resources while supporting sustainable development for communities living within and around the landscape.
Spanning a vast arid expanse across both countries, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park protects one of southern Africa’s most intact desert ecosystems. Defined by red sand dunes, fossil riverbeds and open savannahs, the park supports wide-ranging species adapted to extreme climatic conditions and maintains ecological connectivity across national borders. As pressures from climate variability and land use intensify, the long-term resilience of this landscape depends on coordinated management, robust planning and sustained collaboration between governments, conservation partners and neighbouring communities.
The project focuses primarily on the Botswana section of the park, while supporting selected activities in the South African section, including engagement with the ǂKhomani San community. It aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation outcomes while improving park management systems, infrastructure and logistics, environmental and land use planning processes, and cooperation among key stakeholders.
Central to the initiative is an emphasis on inclusive participation and community resilience, recognising that the health of the Kgalagadi ecosystem is closely linked to the wellbeing and livelihoods of communities living alongside the park. Through improved planning, engagement and institutional collaboration, the project seeks to support sustainable, landscape level approaches that deliver long-term benefits for both people and nature.
Early implementation priorities include establishing project governance structures in Botswana, and development and implementation of individual management plans for the four Wildlife Management Areas around the park, a tourism development plan for the park and a community development plan for the greater landscape. This will guide decision-making across the landscape and create pathways for communities on the Botswana side to start generating sustainable revenue from wildlife and tourism.
By the end of the project, anticipated outcomes include strengthened protected area management capacity, improved operational readiness, robust planning frameworks to guide conservation and land use management, enhanced community participation and socio-economic opportunities; a foundation for sustained, long-term support to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
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Narend Singh, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Republic of South Africa: South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister, Narend Singh, has hailed the project as an important milestone in regional cooperation and environmental conservation.
Speaking at the launch event, Deputy Minister Singh said: “Today’s milestone reaffirms the enduring commitment of our two governments to the full implementation of the Bilateral Agreement signed by our predecessors in 1999, which established the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park as a symbol of peace, cooperation, and shared stewardship.”
Deputy Minister Singh also thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the project. “I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the European Union for its generous financial support through the NaturAfrica Programme, as well as to African Parks for its co-financing support and important role in implementing this project. This investment will make a tangible difference on the ground and reinforces the value of international solidarity, effective partnerships, and collaborative action in addressing shared environmental challenges,” he said.
He further highlighted the socio-economic benefits of the initiative, noting that the project will create much-needed employment opportunities for local communities. “The construction of the fence is expected to create temporary employment opportunities for members of the local community during the implementation phase, thereby providing much-needed income support and valuable work experience to local households,” Deputy Minister Singh added.
Honourable Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi - Republic of Botswana Ministry of Environment and Tourism: The Honourable Minister Mmolotsi indicated that the project is well aligned to Botswana’s strategies including the Economic Transformation Plan (BETP) and the National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan. He indicated that the project operationalises the two planning strategies and will also put the new Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Act to the test to see how community governance structures operate in the face of projects and partners.
Petra Pereyra, EU Ambassador to Botswana and SADC: The launch of the NaturAfrica project in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park marks a pivotal moment for conservation and community resilience in Southern Africa. With a €2.5 million investment under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and NaturAfrica, this partnership with African Parks, IUCN, and the governments of Botswana and South Africa will restore ecological integrity while creating sustainable opportunities for local communities. The Kgalagadi is not just a biodiversity hotspot—it is a shared heritage that demands shared responsibility. By strengthening protected area management, tackling poaching, and fostering inclusive governance, we are proving that nature and people can thrive together. This is conservation in action, and the EU is proud to stand alongside our partners in making it a reality
Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks: The Kgalagadi is an extraordinary place, not only for its wildlife and desert landscapes, but for the communities whose lives and livelihoods are closely bound to it. We are grateful to the Governments of Botswana and South Africa, the European Union, and the IUCN for the trust they have placed in African Parks to support this next chapter. I would also like to thank the Global Wildlife Fund and Dezzy Foundation for their support of African Parks, which directly contributes to our role in delivering this project. This initiative allows us to work shoulder to shoulder with government and local partners, strengthening park management, protecting its biodiversity, and ensuring it continues to deliver real benefits for people. We are proud to be part of this long-term commitment to the Kgalagadi and to its future.
Luther Anukur, Regional Director IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa: The grant awarded to African Parks for KTP marks a major milestone in the EU-funded EUR 10 million portfolio managed by International Union for Conservation of Nature under the SADC TFCA Financing Facility. As part of a broader vision to catalyse sustainable growth across the SADC region, the Facility will support 12 high-impact grants that drive green economy transformation, strengthen resilient local livelihoods, and unlock the long-term value of NaturAfrica landscapes for both people and nature.
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Notes to the Editor:
Republic of Botswana Ministry of Environment and Tourism: The Ministry exists to provide leadership on the management, protection and conservation of the country’s natural resources for sustainable development. It is also mandated to ensuring that the country’s natural resources benefit society and contribute to poverty alleviation through tourism and other commercial uses. Th ministry also provides quality weather and climate information. For more information please visit; Ministry of Environment and Tourism | Government of Botswana
About Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa: The legal mandate and core business of South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are to manage, protect and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources. The mandate is informed by section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 which affords everyone the right to (a) an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and (b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures.
About European Union: The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of twenty-seven member countries. It was created with the goal of promoting peace, security and prosperity in Europe. All over the world, the EU works to prevent and resolve conflicts, to support resilient democracies, to promote human rights and sustainable development, to fight climate change, and to contribute to a rules-based global order. www.european-union.europa.eu/index_en, www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/botswana_en?s=85
About African Parks: African Parks is a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on responsibility for the long-term management of protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities. African Parks manages 24 protected areas in 13 countries covering over 20 million hectares in Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For more information visit www.africanparks.org, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
About the SADC TFCA FF: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Financing Facility (FF) is a regional financing mechanism established to provide sustainable funding for conservation and management actions in Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs). It is an integral part of the SADC TFCA Programme (2023–2033). The SADC TFCA FF was established as an initiative of the SADC Secretariat with its International Cooperating Partners (ICPs) and is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a multi-donor initiative. The European Union (EU) is the second donor to join this multi-donor facility, which was established with seed funding from the German Government. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) grant is funded by the EU and administered by the IUCN in partnership with African Parks.
About IUCN: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.
Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 17,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.
IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, Indigenous Peoples’ organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being. www.iucn.org