The centrality of transfrontier parks in Regional Integration in Southern Africa: The Case of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, Rural Communities Expectations.

Abstract

This study defines the role and place of Trans-frontier Parks in the transformation of rural and resettled communities and deepening regional integration in Southern Africa in the Post 2015 Agenda phase. There is need to sustainably manage parks in the region so as to ensure full benefits are enjoyed from their existence. Regional integration has proved to be the effective strategy in stimulating proper natural resource management within Southern Africa. In the case of trans-boundary resources there is urgent need for regions to come together and ensure viable joint management of the natural resource. The methodological foundations of the study comprise the theory and practice of development, conservancies, transformation and regional integration. Essentially, the study employs in its investigation extensive qualitative research methods. Southern Africa is richly endowed with abundant natural resources which are easy to exploit. Element of novel-ism in the work are that conservancies can led to introduction of trans-frontier parks and this initiative is empowering the previously marginalize by forcing them to change their livelihood from the traditional way to adopt new livelihood strategies which are in line with new industry brought by the trans-frontier park. The force to change is in a positive and productive manner and guarantees the community transformation. Within and surrounding areas, deepening of regional integration has managed to solve conflicts which are attached to the joint management and governance of the trans-boundary resources. The study recommends establishment of Trans-frontier conservancies/ peace parks, through a continuous wider consultative process asserting the transformative and reformative significance of an emerging ecotourism economy which could potentially transform the currently underdeveloped Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Republic of South Africa economies to be higher ranking, developed economies in both the short, medium and long term. The study was mainly based of literature review of secondary sources.