KAZA receives N$300m windfall

The Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) has received nearly N$300 million (16.9 million euro) from the Dutch Postcode Lottery through its Dream Fund Grant. The contribution by the lottery, which is the Netherlands' biggest charitable lottery, will give a major boost to KAZA's ecological and socio-economic development. KAZA is the world's largest transfortier conservation area and is located in the heart of southern Africa, between the Okavango and Zambezi river basins. It brings together areas with a mosaic of land uses, including protected areas, that straddle the boundaries of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, into one cross-border ecosystem the size of France. KAZA is home to approximately half of Africa's elephants, 25% of Africa's wild dogs, almost 20% of the continent's lions, and 15% of the world's wild cheetahs.According to a statement issued by KAZA, the lottery's Dream Fund Grant was awarded to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Peace Parks Foundation and African Parks at a prestigious gala event held in Amsterdam last week Wednesday. The grant will support the combined efforts of African Parks, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Peace Parks Foundation, in partnership with the KAZA Secretariat, to develop safe havens for the active protection of wildlife and biodiversity, establish connectivity through ecological corridors for migratory animals, and secure healthy rivers and catchment areas for the provision of fresh water.“These three leading not-for-profit conservation organisations have joined forces to assist the KAZA partner states to protect the region's globally significant wildlife populations, counter the potential effects of climate change, safeguard and sustainably harness shared resources across borders, and greatly enhance the well-being of local communities,” KAZA said. According to the statement, the five-year Dream Fund project augments support already provided to KAZA by the German Ministry for Economic Co-operation through KfW and other funders, and brings the KAZA partner states one step closer to successfully leveraging conservation as the main economic driver of the region, resulting in thriving landscapes for people and wildlife. This is also aligned with the KAZA TFCA vision to establish a world-class transfrontier conservation area and tourism designation in the Okavango and Zambezi river basin regions within the context of sustainable development.“We were very excited to receive this good news. KAZA is firmly anchored on the spirit of partnership,” said the executive director of the KAZA TFCA Secretariat, Dr Nyambe Nyambe.He said the collaboration between the three conservation NGOs and KAZA partner states in securing the Dream Fund support is a true testimony of this. “On behalf of all the partners the KAZA Secretariat extends our sincerest gratitude to the players of the Dutch Postcode Lottery, who have provided the catalyst for partnerships that will generate real impacts for people and conservation within the KAZA landscape According to KAZA the increasing human footprint and unregulated land use has resulted in declining and fragmented space for animals to move in. It said that herds of elephants become trapped in small islands of habitat, blocked from food and water by fences, settlements and farmland. This increasingly leads to conflict with humans, putting immense strain on both wildlife populations and community members. “For centuries, migratory animals such as elephants moved freely between the states, following ancient routes in search of water, food and safe breeding grounds. The longest large mammal migration in the world can be found in KAZA TFCA as thousands of zebras travel a 500 km round trip between Namibia and Botswana every year,” said the statement. Therefore, a key pillar to success in KAZA is developing important habitat ranges for elephants and securing the safe passage of the free-roaming elephants, and other wildlife, between these safe havens, while providing for a viable livelihood for communities living along these corridors.ELLANIE SMIT

KAZA receives N$300m windfall

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-16

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KAZA receives N$300m windfall

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Namibian Sun 2025-10-16

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