Improvement of territorial governance and support for co-management on the outskirts of Bénoué National Park

The Bénoué National Park (PNB), once known for its rich biodiversity and magnificent habitats, is today characterized by a densely populated peripheral area where there is a large population formerly migrating and now settled. These come from the far north, from Chad, Niger, Nigeria and the Central African Republic. This population continues to grow. It is now estimated at over 60,000 inhabitants.

Due to the poverty of local residents and poor territorial governance leading to a lack of land use planning, planning and conflicts of use, Hunting Zones of Interest (ZIC) 1 and 4 of the western periphery of the Park have undergone significant degradation and are experiencing a generalization of conflicts of use, an increase in insecurity and the invasion of wildlife migration corridors by agricultural fields.

Recent studies have shown that to the east of the protected area, the Bénoué River, which is the limit between the PNB and ZICs 2, 3, and 9, is also, with its tributaries, an important area for biodiversity. . It is a refuge for the last groups of emblematic mammals living within the complex, such as elephants, lions, panthers, derby elands and buffaloes.

This eastern periphery of the GNP is also currently experiencing rapid degradation due to the massive settlement of migrants in search of land, after not having been able to settle in the West of the already overpopulated and highly anthropized GNP. We are witnessing the proliferation of nomadic herders villages, as well as the development of gold mining sites. Another major threat is endemic poaching and trafficking in elephant and hippo tusks, teeth and skins of large carnivores.

The project will mainly take place in the villages bordering ZICs 2, 3, and 9 of the eastern outskirts of the Park and in the Community Management Hunting Areas of Interest (ZICGC) 1 and 4 of the western outskirts and in the south of the Park. Park.

The project area is located about 205 km from the city of Garoua, the city where the headquarters of CERAF-Nord is located. The project follows on from 2 other projects funded by the PPI. One in 2014 carried by the Mayo Rey Conservation (MRC) association and the other in 2017 by the CELDIE association. The objective of this project is to support integrated and sustainable management of the natural resources and ecosystems of the Bénoué National Park and its periphery.