By Johnson Siamachira
Harare, October 26,2026 (New Ziana) — Southern African countries forming the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) should align their economic development with nature protection and community livelihoods to ease mounting pressure on land, water and wildlife, a new report says.
The KAZA Green Growth Trends and Opportunities Analysis identifies five pathways for sustainable growth, including nature-based tourism, sustainable land and water management, green infrastructure, inclusive livelihoods and stronger regional cooperation.
The report, commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in partnership with the KAZA Secretariat, examines opportunities across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
KAZA-TFCA covers about 520,000 square kilometres and supports approximately three million people. Expanding agriculture, mining, infrastructure and settlements are increasing pressure on ecosystems, while climate change is worsening droughts and rainfall variability.
Simon Masanga, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife and chair of KAZA’s Committee of Senior Officials, said the analysis provides a framework for integrating conservation with economic development.
“This initiative’s collaborative nature underscores the shared responsibility and commitment of the partner states to achieve these goals,” he said in the report.
Tourism offers one opportunity to spread economic benefits beyond established destinations such as Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and Kafue National Park.
The analysis identifies 620 lesser-known tourism sites that attract relatively few visitors and offer limited activities. Developing these destinations could diversify tourism, create opportunities for local businesses and ease pressure on heavily visited areas.
Nyambe Nyambe, executive director of the KAZA Secretariat, said the five countries needed to coordinate development priorities to protect the region’s natural resources while improving people’s livelihoods.
WWF co-author, Peter Scheren said decisions on tourism, agriculture and infrastructure should account for their effects on wildlife, water, land and communities across national borders.
The report also calls for stronger community participation in natural resource management and more investment in local enterprises so that people living within the conservation landscape benefit from economic activities.
Its findings will inform national integrated development plans in the five countries and the KAZA Master Integrated Development Plan, which aims to coordinate development across the region.
The KAZA partnership operates under a treaty signed by the five countries in 2011 and is part of the Southern African Development Community’s regional cooperation framework.
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