ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a broad-level overview of the political and environmental contexts associated with the emergence of various nature conservation practices throughout history. It explores the reasons for the designation and operation of national parks in different socio-ecological and spatial settings, as well as the broader political and biological roles played by nature protection and the historical setting and key driving forces for the protection of geographical places and biological species across the world. The lack of consistency at the global scale persisted until 1948, which was marked by the establishment of the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUCN). The development of Africa's national park system has been deeply shaped by the divergence between the experience and practices of its colonial history. The realization that the long-term viability of African wildlife hinges on overcoming the isolation and fragmentation of protected areas has led to the creation of a continuous network of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs).
