Luanda - The development of the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) is portrayed in a scientific work launched this Wednesday, in Luanda, authored by Professor Amélia Carlos Cazalma.
Entitled “The contribution of sustainable tourism development in cross-border conservation areas, for the inclusion of communities and promotion of peace”, the book, resulting from the Angolan academic's doctoral thesis, aims to analyze the organization and management format of the KAZA-TFCA for the five countries that comprises this zone (Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia).
According to Amélia Cazalma, the theme of the scientific work, with 689 pages, serves as a basis for promoting unity, inclusion and peace among people, through tourism, which constitutes a tool for the development of any country.
“The growth of a given country essentially depends on the level of development of the hotel and tourism sector, as it is the area that simultaneously drives the growth of other sectors of the country's socio-economic life”, she highlighted.
According to the academic, KAZA-TFCA constitutes a sample of the 229 transboundary areas registered worldwide, being the second largest conservation zone in the world, with around 520k square kilometers.
The largest cross-border area is located between the United States of America (USA) and Canada, with a territorial extension of more than one million square kilometers.
Thus, Amélia Cazalma considers the KAZA project an example for the world, if the communities surrounding the respective cross-border areas are developed, reducing hunger and poverty among the people in these regions.
For the university lecturer, who spoke to the press at the end of the book's launch, the work is the result of extensive research work, which shows the reality observed, representing the contribution that must be made to the development of hotels and tourism, particularly, in Angola.
On the occasion, she said that since 2016 she defended her doctoral thesis, only today was it possible to launch the book, due to limitations in logistical and technical means, with the presentation being led by the Association of Hotels and Resorts of Angola (AHRA), in addition to other institutions that directly and indirectly supported the publication of the work.
The launch of the book, which is being sold for 35.000 kwanzas (US$42), was witnessed by academics, students, government officials, religious entities, among other individuals.
Among her qualifications, Amélia Carlos Cazalma has a PhD in Educational Sciences from the University of Granada Spain, PhD in Tourism, Leisure and Culture Coimbra - Portugal. Currently, the Angolan professor and researcher at the Methodist University of Angola (UMA) is preparing her third doctoral thesis in Integrative Medicine, in South Africa.
KAZA Project
This project KAZA-TFCA covers an area of approximately 520k square kilometers. Of this number, Angola holds the second largest share with 90k square kilometers, surpassed by Zambia, with 97k, while the remaining 98k kilometers are shared by Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia - the latter with the smallest territorial share.
In Angola, KAZA-TFCA is located in the south-eastern province of Cuando Cubango, covering the municipalities of Cuito Cuanavale, Dirico, Mavinga and Rivungo, where the Mavinga and Luengue-Luiana national parks are located.
KAZA-TFCA aims to promote the creation of transnational collaboration, cooperation between SADC member states, promote alliances in the management of biological and cultural resources, and encourage social and economic cooperation.
This area includes, on the Angolan side, the Luengue-Luiana and Mavinga national parks, which are interconnected with several tourist attractions in other member countries, such as the Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Okavango Delta (Botswana), Bwabwata Park (Namibia) and Kafue Park in Zambia.
The program is the largest eco-tourist destination in the world, connecting 36 conservation areas in five countries, has the largest freshwater reserve in the universe, the largest contiguous population of African elephant, more than 200 thousand, more than 600 species of birds, 128 reptiles, 50 amphibians and several types of invertebrates, as well as several types of animals on the verge of extinction.
QCB/PPA/CF/jmc
