3 African nations create joint conservation area
Mark Graffis
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.
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