During the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of the Parties 17 that is currently taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) portal was launched during a side event hosted by SADC on 3^rd of October 2016.

Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) were created by SADC Member States to facilitate cross-border conservation, responsible utilisation of natural resources sustainable development in the region. Through TFCAs, ecosystems shall be protected at landscape level through collaboration, policy harmonization and the inclusion of local communities and other stakeholders across borders.

The TFCA Network was created to support the advancement of TFCAs in the region and connects more than 250 TFCA stakeholders and experts from the 15 SADC Member States, for better information exchange, transfer of learning and improved communication. GIZ, together with KfW and on behalf of the German Government, the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF), as well as USAID programmes RESILIM and SAREP, the BIOPAMA Programme and Boundless Southern Africa are supporting the SADC TFCA Network and SADC Secretariat to organize four themed side events and a permanent exhibition booth during the COP17.

One of these events, the “Governance of SADC TFCAs” officially launched the SADC TFCA portal (www.tfcaportal.org), a resource for better access to the best information for TFCAs, exchange of information and discussion of topical issues. The BIOPAMA Reference Information System is a critical component of this portal, providing relevant information on biodiversity and protected areas within TFCAs.