| Iona – Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area | |
| Location: | Angola and Namibia |
| Area Ha: | 47,698 |
The Iona–Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Conservation Area is a transfrontier conservation area. It encompasses Iona National Park and Namibe Partial Reserve in Angola and Skeleton Coast National Park in Namibia, making it one of the largest in the world.[1] The two countries share a common boundary along the Cunene River, which is where Iona and Skeleton Coast also meet. The Namibe Partial Reserve is north of Iona and shares a border along the Curoca River.[2]
The Memorandum of Agreement for the transfrontier area was signed on May 3, 2018.[3]
The area is important for migration across the region, protection of the Cunene River ecosystem, as well as shielding the Welwitschia mirabillis plants. It includes at least 90% of the world population of Desert plated lizards. Other animals include black-faced impala, desert elephants, and black rhinoceros.
The area has dunes, plains, and rough mountains. It also has a 1 km wide stretch of the Atlantic Ocean.
A potential expansion, called the Three Nations Namib Desert Transfrontier Conservation Area (TNND TFCA), would include the ǀAi-ǀAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park to the south.[4]