Peace Parks Foundation

What Peace Parks Foundation does

Peace Parks Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization founded on 1 February 1997 in Stellenbosch, South Africa, by HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, President Nelson Mandela, and Dr Anton Rupert. The foundation facilitates the establishment and co-management of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) across southern Africa, currently covering 10 protected areas spanning 11 African countries with a combined footprint of 675,990 km² across five priority landscapes (Great Limpopo, Kavango Zambezi, Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools, Lubombo, Malawi-Zambia). Core programmatic work includes rewilding (18,167 animals translocated to degraded areas by end-2023, with park populations growing to an estimated 100,000), community development via the Herding for Health programme and other livelihood initiatives reaching over 400,000 people, anti-poaching operations including K9 units, and GIS-based landscape planning. The technology stack is led by external platforms: EarthRanger for real-time wildlife and resource tracking in three Great Limpopo parks and Maputo National Park, plus proprietary GIS services. Two training institutions, SA College for Tourism and Southern African Wildlife College, function as wholly-owned operating subsidiaries building conservation and hospitality capacity.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit revenue stack. The largest identifiable inflows are institutional grants from four Postcode Lottery groups (Sweden, UK, Netherlands, Germany) aggregating roughly USD 2M+ annually, plus bilateral government funding from Germany (BMZ via KfW, including a EUR 6M COVID-era cash-for-work programme), Global Affairs Canada (Restoring African Rangelands Project), Blue Action Fund (EUR 5.9M for Mozambique marine protection), and GEF/UNEP. A secondary stream is conservation finance innovation: carbon credits, biodiversity funds, USD 10M-scale conservation bond proposals, and tourism revenue with 20% of park revenue directed to local communities. A long tail of individual and corporate giving flows through Peace Parks Club, Club 21 legacy giving, and direct online donations via Stripe. Distribution is via headquarters in Stellenbosch plus Peace Parks International offices in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, UK, and USA, and formal co-management agreements with national conservation authorities (most notably a 15-year partnership with Mozambique's ANAC across four national parks).

Name

Peace Parks Foundation

Legal name

Peace Parks Foundation

Website

https://peaceparks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Peace Parks Foundation is a South Africa-headquartered non-profit that establishes and co-manages transfrontier conservation areas across 11 southern African countries, delivering rewilding, community development, and conservation finance programs supported by global donor funding and government partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Grassland/Rangeland Management & Restoration (EUABABAF)

Keywords

• Transfrontier conservation areas
• Wildlife rewilding programmes
• Community conservation development
• Conservation finance mechanisms
• Anti-poaching wildlife protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Stellenbosch

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The foundation accepts donations through online platforms (Stripe), direct bank transfers, and in-kind contributions. Donors receive receipts and thank-you letters, with instant receipts available for online donations. Donations are accepted with no material benefit provided to donors.
2. Membership Programs: Peace Parks Club and Club 21 membership programs offer recurring engagement with donors, providing benefits and exclusive updates on conservation work.
3. Conservation Finance: Revenue from carbon credits, biodiversity funds, conservation bonds, and tourism operations within managed parks. The foundation develops innovative financing mechanisms including USD 10 million bond proposals for corridor protection.
4. Tourism: Revenue generating tourism activities within co-managed national parks, with 20% share in park revenue directed to local communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Peace Parks Foundation facilitates the establishment and co-management of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) across southern Africa, working with national governments, local communities, and donors to develop 10 transboundary conservation areas spanning 11 African countries. Its portfolio includes large-scale rewilding of degraded landscapes (18,167 animals rewilded by end-2023), Community Development Programmes (including Herding for Health), Conservation Finance instruments (carbon credits, conservation bonds, biodiversity funds, tourism), anti-poaching operations via the Combatting Wildlife Crime Unit, and conservation training through the SA College for Tourism and Southern African Wildlife College.

Product overview

Peace Parks Foundation operates as a conservation nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include the establishment and co-management of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) spanning 10 protected areas across 11 African countries, the Rewilding Programme for wildlife restoration, Community Development Programmes including Herding for Health, Conservation Finance mechanisms, and the Combatting Wildlife Crime Unit. Supporting educational institutions include the SA College for Tourism and Southern African Wildlife College. The organization also operates Peace Parks TV as a communications platform. The portfolio works holistically through three pillars: conservation at scale, community development, and commercial sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Peace Parks TV: A unique platform providing behind-the-scenes footage of conservation work in the field
• Herding for Health
• Peace Parks Club
• Club 21

Products and services

• Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) Co-management Programme Large ecological regions spanning international borders that encompass protected areas and multiple resource-use areas; Peace Parks Foundation has facilitated the establishment of 10 transboundary conservation areas spanning 11 African countries, including Great Limpopo, Kavango Zambezi, Lower Zambezi-Mana Pools, Lubombo, and Malawi-Zambia landscapes.
• Rewilding Programme Restoration of wildlife populations to previously degraded areas through controlled translocations; Peace Parks had rewilded 18,167 animals to degraded areas by the end of 2023, with populations growing to an estimated 100,000 in co-managed parks. Work covers species including rhino, elephant, cheetah, leopard, hyena, eland, and zebra.
• Community Development Programmes Programmes promoting economic growth and development for people living within transfrontier conservation areas, including Herding for Health, conservation agriculture initiatives, water-security schemes, and education support reaching 400,000+ people.
• Conservation Finance Mechanisms Financial sustainability mechanisms including carbon credits, biodiversity funds, conservation bonds and tourism revenue for protected areas; Peace Parks works to enable the financial sustainability of all the parks it works in.
• Combatting Wildlife Crime Unit Anti-poaching operations, K9 canine units, and technology innovations such as the Postcode Meerkat surveillance system to protect wildlife across the parks Peace Parks co-manages, including in Zinave National Park where K9 operations were launched in 2016.
• Geographical Information System (GIS) Services GIS mapping and spatial analysis services for conservation planning and landscape management, supporting land-use planning, wildlife corridor design, and transboundary landscape strategy.
• SA College for Tourism Training college that delivers hospitality and tourism skills training to approximately 90 young women annually from impoverished backgrounds; the Tracker Academy within the same programme trains 16 trackers per year (since 2010).
• Southern African Wildlife College Training institution for wildlife management and conservation staff, offering full-time and short courses for rangers and conservation professionals across southern Africa.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18,167 animals rewilded to previously degraded areas by end of 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Mozambique National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner15-year conservation partnership for co-management of Maputo National Park, Zinave National Park, Limpopo National Park, and Banhine National Park. ANAC celebrated 15 years of conservation leadership with Peace Parks recognized for long-term commitment.
• BirdLife South AfricastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to establish Zinave National Park as a Vulture Safe Zone - the largest in southern Africa. Collaboration includes protecting Key Biodiversity Areas and developing birding tourism routes.
• Conservation InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead implementing partner for the Restoring African Rangelands Project. Partner in Herding for Health programme. Worked with Peace Parks to develop Luengue-Luiana National Park.
• Conservation South AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner in the Restoring African Rangelands Project, focusing on community engagement and conservation activities.
• Southern African Wildlife CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounder partner of the Southern African Wildlife College which builds capacity of staff in wildlife areas. Peace Parks Foundation and WWF South Africa are strategic partners along with SANParks and SADC.
• SA College for TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2001 by Dr Anton Rupert, then chairman of Peace Parks Foundation. Trains 90 young women annually on hospitality service skills, with Tracker Academy training 16 trackers yearly since 2010.
• United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementation partner for GEF-6 governance guidelines development process supporting wildlife crime reduction across landscapes.
• Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (South Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner in Greater Kruger landscape governance workshops and conservation initiatives.
• South African National Parks (SANParks)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Kruger National Park management and Greater Kruger landscape coordination, represented by the Greater Kruger partnership.
• Endangered Wildlife TruststrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in vulture conservation and monitoring, providing technical expertise for Vulture Safe Zone criteria compliance.
• The HALO TruststrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization clearing minefields in south-eastern Angola (post-civil war legacy) to enable conservation access to Luengue-Luiana National Park.
• Barotse Royal Establishment (Western Province, Zambia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraditional leadership custodians of the Barotse Floodplain. His Majesty the Litunga joined the Peace Parks Board in April 2026, advancing the Kafue-Zambezi Community Forest Project.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conservation International: Global conservation NGO that is a lead implementing partner with Peace Parks on the Restoring African Rangelands Project and co-developed Luengue-Luiana National Park. Operates in similar transboundary conservation contexts and serves overlapping donor bases.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife conservation organization working across African landscapes with government partnerships, anti-poaching operations, and transboundary conservation programs. Operates similar wildlife monitoring and ranger training programs as Peace Parks' Combatting Wildlife Crime Unit.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Pan-African conservation organization focused on wildlife and wildlands across the continent, including transboundary landscapes. Directly comparable in mission, geographic focus on East and Southern Africa, and stakeholder model combining government partnerships with community engagement.
• Fauna & Flora International: International conservation NGO focused on species and habitat protection, with active programs in Africa. Comparable in partnership-driven conservation model and emphasis on landscape-scale interventions with measurable biodiversity outcomes.
• Frankfurt Zoological Society: Conservation NGO with deep involvement in African transboundary and protected area management, including support to wildlife authorities and community-based conservation. Comparable in operating model supporting government co-management of large protected areas.

Broad incumbents

• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Largest global conservation NGO with extensive African footprint and transboundary landscape work, including direct overlap with Peace Parks' operating geographies (e.g., Kavango-Zambezi). WWF South Africa is also a strategic partner of Peace Parks via the Southern African Wildlife College.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits, working on landscape-scale conservation including Africa. Comparable in using conservation finance mechanisms (debt-for-nature swaps, impact investing) and managing protected areas at scale, though with a much broader global portfolio.
• IUCN: International union for conservation of nature providing standards, frameworks, and convening authority for protected area management globally. Operates as a broader umbrella in the same conservation ecosystem as Peace Parks, including the World Commission on Protected Areas.

Emerging players

• Panthera: Wild cat conservation organization working across African landscapes including those where Peace Parks operates (e.g., reintroductions of leopards and cheetahs to Zinave and Maputo). Comparable in species-focused rewilding and anti-poaching activities within transfrontier contexts.
• BirdLife International: Global partnership of bird conservation organizations with significant African presence. Directly comparable through Peace Parks' Vulture Safe Zone partnership with BirdLife South Africa and shared focus on Key Biodiversity Areas within protected landscapes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Peace_Parks
• Facebookfacebook.com/PeaceParksFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peaceparksfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Peace Parks Foundation