Natural Resources Management

Fisheries

Fisheries in the SADC region remains one of the key economic sectors that contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of Member States. Of paramount importance is its impact on food security, poverty alleviation, and employment creation. Its contributions towards the realization of the aims of SADC as enshrined in the SADC Treat, and in particular on deeper regional integration and poverty reduction, and to that of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Forestry

SADC forests provide a wide range of products and services that are important to the socio-economic well-being of the region's communities. Considering the high dependence of the poor on forests, it is imperative for forestry to focus on poverty reduction and environmental protection. The goal of the Forestry Programme therefore is the conservation, sustainable management, utilisation and enhancement of the SADC region's forest resources, consistent with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and priorities of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate.

Consultancy (September 2009): Development of A SADC Regional Forestry Strategy And Implementation Plan - Terms of Reference

Wildlife Management

Wildlife is a potential natural resource of the SADC region. SADC countries, excluding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the islands, have 39 % of their total surface area as protected areas and a large population of wildlife, especially elephants (242,469) accounting for 39% of all African elephants (Said et al, 1995). Through wildlife management, SADC aims to protect wildlife and their habitats, promote community based natural resource management, upscale economic and social incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife, and implement obligations of International Agreements (For details refer to the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement – Article 6).

Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs)

The concept of creating transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) is recognised as important tool in promoting the conservation of biodiversity and endangered ecosystems. It has been established that the development of TFCAs can contribute to the welfare and improvement in the standards of living of rural communities through the development of tourism and tourism related products. TFCAs compliment the SADC principles related to alleviation of poverty and regional economic integration.

Contact for Natural Resources Management @ FANR:
Nyambe H. Nyambe, nnyambe@sadc.int