SKEP’s vision is "that the people of the Succulent Karoo take ownership of and enjoy their unique living landscape in a way that maintains biodiversity and improves livelihoods now and in perpetuity."

The 20-year conservation targets identified for the Succulent Karoo during the SKEP planning phase in 2001 were:

a) 75 percent of the conservation targets set in the SKEP process for 135 vegetation types will be protected and conserved.

b) Key climatic gradients and riverine corridors will be taken into consideration in the creation or expansion of any protected areas.

c) Globally threatened and endangered species listed in the Red Data sources will be under additional protection.

d) Sites in the Succulent Karoo hotspot that house unique, endemic and globally threatened species will be identified and protected..

The four broad Strategic Focal Areas of the 20-year strategy identified for achieving the vision and targets were and still are:
1. Increasing awareness
2. Expanding protected areas
3. Promoting a matrix of harmonious land uses
4. Improving institutional coordination

While much has been achieved in the first five years of SKEP, more still needs to be done to make sure that this vital, sensitive region and its people are able to survive – and indeed thrive – in the face of mounting pressures. The next phase of SKEP needs to see stronger links with key government departments and programmes with a focus on strengthening local government capacity. Additional skills training and environmental education are needed to improve scientific leadership and knowledge management. With a greater understanding of SKEP’s strengths and weaknesses and five year’s of experience in what works and what does not – the programme aims to address eight strategic priorities over the five-year period from 2009 to 2014:

1. Securing land in priority areas
2. Expanding the SKEP partnership
3. Linking livelihoods and biodiversity
4. Building local government capacity
5. Enhancing the role of science in SKEP
6. Climate change and renewable energy
7. Involving the mining sector
8. Raising awareness