Tankwa Karoo National Park Case Study

3. Tankwa Karoo National Park (Northern Cape)
In 1986 the Tankwa Karoo National Park (TKNP), situated within the Succulent Karoo, was acknowledged as a national park (Bester et al., 2012; Rubin, 1998; Van der Merwe et al., 2015). It is therefore seen as a youngster amongst South Africa’s other National Parks (Bester et al., 2012). The vision of the TKNP is to “endeavour towards the conservation of the TKNP through the integrated, effective and adaptive management of ecological systems, cultural heritage, and responsible tourism. As aregional partner, parks develop and maintain community participation and empowerment” (Strauss and Cowell, 2014).
In by 1996 it was reported that only 2.82% of this biome was conserved and was therefore regarded
Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area (KwaZulu Natal)
Difference between Transfrontier Parks and Transfrontier conservation areas:
Transfrontier parks generally include two internationally bordering areas (DEA, 2015). The main focus of these areas is the conservation of wildlife. These areas are free of anthropogenic barriers, facilitating free movement for all fauna. The two areas will generally be managed as one unit by the responsible authorities from both countries.
Transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) also include cross-border areas. However, these adjacent areas usually hold different conservation statuses such as (1) “Communal natural resource management areas, (2) Hunting concession areas; (3) National parks; and (4) Private game reserves” (DEA, 2015). Free roaming of fauna is not always a possibility in these conservation areas. These areas are also jointly managed as with Transfrontier parks, even though they are often separated by national roads and railway lines
The majority of the conservation area is situated within Lesotho and only 36% lies across border in South Africa (KwaZulu Natal). Four sub-regions are included in this conservation area: (1) Eastern Cape Drakensberg and Witteberge; (2) KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg; (3) Lesotho Maloti mountains; and (4) Eastern Free State (SADC, n.d.). It covers portions of both the Drakensberg and Maloti mountainous regions to the extent of 300 km. It also includes Lesotho’s Sehlathebe National Park and South Africa’s uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Two biomes are included in this area, the Grassland Biome and Afro montane Forest. Since the latter is present in a 500 km stretch along all but the western border between Lesotho and South Africa, it forms a centre of endemism (DEA, 2015; SADC,