Supporting the preservation of the Sena Oura and Bouba Ndjidda national parks in Central Africa

Context

The protected area complex BSB Yamoussa, housing the Bouba Ndjidda National Park (PNBN) in Cameroon and the Sena Oura National Park (PNSO) in Chad, is crucial for protecting wildlife in Central and West Africa. It stands as one of the last refuges for iconic species like elephants, lions, and giraffes, which face threats elsewhere.

Yet, pressure on the parks is steadily increasing. Expanding populations strain farming and grazing lands, while illegal mining, regional conflicts, and land degradation in Cameroon compound these issues. Challenges in ensuring safe animal migration and a troubling rise in global elephant poaching add to the risks. Improving the management of these parks and improving the living conditions of the local communities requires the intervention of qualified experts and the necessary resources to respond effectively to these urgent problems.

Objective

The living conditions of the local population on the edge of the Sena Oura and Bouba Ndjidda national parks have improved and the pressure on the national parks has decreased accordingly.

Approach

The project's approach involves concerted action and competency development for various stakeholders, guided by a participatory management plan. It focuses on the following key measures:

• Cross-border management through the implementation of intergovernmental agreements and specific protocols for the BSB Yamoussa complex.
• Executing local development measures outlined in the updated park management plans for the periphery of Yamoussa Binational Complex’s protected areas.
• Enacting environmental education strategies detailed in the park management plans.
• Establishing clear zones for different types ofhunting areas around Bouba Ndjidda National Park’s edges and Sena Oura National Park’s buffer zone.

last update: February 2024