Protected area expansion in the Lowveld

Conservation Outcomes has a long-standing relationship with protected areas in the Greater Kruger Area, stemming from when it was involved in the implementation of SANParks Global Environmental Facility (GEF-5) Programme. Through this work, which has continued beyond GEF-5, Conservation Outcomes has assisted historically declared protected areas in becoming regularised in terms of the Protected Areas Act and has undertaken considerable protected area expansion of existing and new protected areas. Integrated within this work, Conservation Outcomes has assisted the protected areas with initiatives like management effectiveness assessments and the development of game meat value chains, in support of the wildlife economy. Most recently Conservation Outcomes has assisted the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR), which is part of the open system of the Greater Kruger Area in the development of an elephant management plan. The establishment of and declaration of new protected areas has now extended well beyond the open system of the Greater Kruger Area and encompasses significant protected area expansion in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.