AFRICAN PARKS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Programs
Program 1 [2020]
AFRICAN PARKS IS A NON-PROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES ON THE COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REHABILITATION AND LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL PARKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE CURRENTLY MANAGE 19 NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS IN 11 COUNTRIES COVERING OVER 14.7 MILLION HECTARES IN: ANGOLA, BENIN, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MALAWI, MOZAMBIQUE, THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA, ZAMBIA AND ZIMBABWE.1. GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK SPANS 5,133 KM2 AND IS SITUATED IN THE NORTH-EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) BORDERING SOUTH SUDAN. IT IS ONE OF AFRICA'S OLDEST NATIONAL PARKS, DESIGNATED IN 1938, AND IN 1980 WAS DECLARED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE. ONCE HOME TO 22,000 ELEPHANTS AS RECENTLY AS THE 1970S, MILITARIZED POACHERS REDUCED THE POPULATION TO FEWER THAN 1,200 TODAY; AND THE NORTHERN WHITE RHINOS WERE POACHED TO LOCAL EXTINCTION IN THE EARLY 2000S. THESE HIGHLY INCENTIVIZED POACHERS MADE UP OF SOUTH SUDANESE ARMED GROUPS, THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY (LRA) AND OTHERS, CONTINUE TO TARGET THE REGION'S REMAINING ELEPHANTS FOR THE SALE OF THEIR IVORY TO FUND THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, WREAKING HAVOC ON PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE AS THEY GO. TO STOP THE PARK'S DESTRUCTION AND BRING STABILITY TO THE AREA, AFRICAN PARKS SIGNED AN AGREEMENT IN 2005 TO MANAGE GARAMBA. IN 2016, WE REDEFINED GARAMBA'S HISTORY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EXTENSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY WITH SUPPORT FROM CRITICAL DONORS. A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM ALONG WITH INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES WAS AFFORDED TO THE RANGERS, LOCAL STAFF AND COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE GARAMBA COMPLEX. SINCE IMPLEMENTING THIS NEW STRATEGY, SURVEYS SHOW A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN THE PARK, ELEPHANT POACHING HAS DROPPED BY 90%, NOT ONE RANGER HAS BEEN KILLED IN ACTION BY ARMED POACHERS SINCE 2017, AND KEY WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, INCLUDING KORDOFAN GIRAFFE, HAVE EITHER STABILIZED OR ARE INCREASING. OUR GROWING RANGER FORCE PROVIDES SECURITY NOT ONLY TO WILDLIFE BUT ALSO TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVING AROUND THE PARK, SLOWLY RETURNING PEACE TO THIS CORNER OF THE WORLD AGAIN.2. PENDJARI NATIONAL PARK IN BENIN, COVERS 4,800 KM2 AND IS THE LAST REFUGE FOR THE REGION'S 1,700 ELEPHANTS AND 25% OF THE REMAINING 400 CRITICALLY ENDANGERED WEST AFRICAN LIONS. YEARS OF POACHING AND UNSUSTAINABLE USE HAVE THREATENED THIS LANDSCAPE, BUT SINCE JANUARY OF 2018, WHEN AFRICAN PARKS BEGAN MANAGING THE PARK, IT'S POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT BOTH WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE IS GROWING. PENDJARI IS POISED TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL WILDLIFE DESTINATION, WITH MORE THAN 7,170 VISITORS IN 2019 THE HIGHEST ON RECORD BUT THE PARK ALSO NEEDS TO DELIVER BENEFITS OF SECURITY, EMPLOYMENT, AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS FOR THE NEARLY 40,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE AROUND ITS BOUNDARY. EMPLOYMENT HAS ALREADY ALMOST DOUBLED IN JUST TWO YEARS; WATERING POINTS FOR LIVESTOCK ARE BEING CREATED OUTSIDE THE PARK TO REDUCE ILLEGAL ACCESS; AND OUR RANGER CONTINGENT IS MADE UP OF OVER 100 WELL-TRAINED LOCAL INDIVIDUALS. ALREADY WE ARE SEEING LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS DESCRIBE PENDJARI AS 'THEIR PARK' WHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE SEEING A ROLE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS LANDSCAPE, AND AS DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF WHAT THE PARK CAN DELIVER.3. THE BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO NATIONAL PARK IN MOZAMBIQUE IS THE FIRST MARINE RESERVE TO FALL UNDER AFRICAN PARKS' MANAGEMENT. IN 2017, THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF CONSERVATION AREAS (ANAC) INVITED AFRICAN PARKS TO MANAGE ITS OLDEST NATIONAL MARINE PARK, GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THIS GEM IN THE INDIAN OCEAN. DECLARED A PROTECTED AREA IN 1971, BAZARUTO IS MADE UP OF FIVE ISLANDS, THREE OF WHICH ARE INHABITED BY 5,000 PEOPLE. THE ARCHIPELAGO BOASTS ICONIC MEGAFAUNA, INCLUDING WHALES, SHARKS, SAILFISH, MANTA RAYS, DOLPHINS, MARLIN AND NESTING MARINE TURTLES, AS WELL AS THE REGION'S LAST VIABLE POPULATION OF DUGONGS. THE SHEER BEAUTY OF THIS SEASCAPE, ALONG WITH THE DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE, HAS MADE BAZARUTO A SOUGHT-AFTER TOURISM DESTINATION. HOWEVER, THE HISTORICAL OVERUSE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, ILLEGAL FISHING PRACTICES AND POORLY REGULATED TOURISM ACTIVITIES NEGATIVELY IMPACTED THE AREA'S BIODIVERSITY AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF THOSE WHO LIVE HERE. BUT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE RESULTS OF EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT HAVE BEGUN TO CRYSTALLIZE AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES, TOURISM OPERATORS AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS ARE HELPING TO SECURE A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. THE PARK'S MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS GROWN, INFRASTRUCTURE HAS IMPROVED, SECURITY HAS BEEN ENHANCED AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN CURTAILED. BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO HAS SHOWN THAT ITS ROLE IS NOT ONLY TO SAFEGUARD BIODIVERSITY, BUT ALSO HELP PROTECT THE WELLBEING OF ITS PEOPLE.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2020 – Dec 31, 2020Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$19.4MConservation Management Initiatives
AFRICAN PARKS IS A NON-PROFIT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION THAT TAKES ON DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REHABILITATION AND LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. WE CURRENTLY MANAGE 22 NATIONAL PARKS AND PROTECTED AREAS IN 12 COUNTRIES COVERING OVER 20 MILLION HECTARES IN: ANGOLA, BENIN, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CHAD, THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, MALAWI, MOZAMBIQUE, THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO, SOUTH SUDAN, RWANDA, ZAMBIA, AND ZIMBABWE.CHINKO:SITUATED IN EASTERN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR), ONE OF AFRICA'S MOST REMOTE AND UNSTABLE REGIONS, CHINKO CONTINUES TO BE A REMARKABLE STORY OF SUCCESS AND RESTORATION. SINCE 2014, WHEN THE CAR GOVERNMENT INVITED AFRICAN PARKS TO MANAGE CHINKO, WILDLIFE BEGAN TO RETURN, AND STABILITY IS INCREASING IN A REGION ONCE FRAUGHT WITH CIVIL WAR AND POACHING. IN APRIL 2020, A REVISED AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR A FURTHER 25 YEARS. UNDER THIS NEW MANDATE, THE FUNCTIONAL LANDSCAPE OF CHINKO WAS INCLUDED, TAKING THE AREA UNDER MANAGEMENT TO OVER 55,000 KM/SQ. AS EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT HAS TAKEN HOLD, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THE VALUE OF CHINKO. THROUGH A TRANSHUMANCE SENSITIZATION PROGRAM, FOCUSING ON PEACEFULLY RAISING AWARENESS AMONG HERDERS AROUND THE PARK TO GUIDE THEM ALONG DESIGNATED CATTLE CORRIDORS, THE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY CATTLE IS DIMINISHING. IN 2022, THE WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND SENSITIZATION TEAMS INCREASED THE ACTIVE PROTECTION OF THE CORE PROTECTED AREA TO 24,300 KM/SQ, KEEPING THE AREA FREE OF LIVESTOCK. ELEPHANT NUMBERS HAVE STABILIZED AND ARE ON THE RISE, THE NEARLY ERADICATED NORTHERN LION POPULATION HAS INCREASED TO A FEW HUNDRED, BUFFALO NUMBERS ARE GROWING ANNUALLY, AND THE GIANT ELAND AND BONGO POPULATIONS ARE NOW THE LARGEST UNDER EFFECTIVE PROTECTION IN AFRICA. SPECIFICALLY IN THIS PAST YEAR, CHINKO CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF ELEVEN WILD DOGS, INCLUDING JUVENILES, AND A BREEDING POPULATION OF EASTERN CHIMPANZEES, SIGNALING A RESURGENCE OF THESE KEY SPECIES. FURTHERMORE, ENTERPRISE INITIATIVES AND THE PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS MARKET GARDENING, MEDICAL, AND EDUCATION HAVE IMPROVED THE LIVELIHOODS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE DIRECT PERIPHERY OF THE PARK. GOING FORWARD, THE VISION FOR CHINKO IS TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THE CORE CONSERVATION AREA WITHIN THE CONTIGUOUS LANDSCAPE OF EASTERN CAR, TO SERVE AS AN ECOLOGICAL CORRIDOR FROM CHAD TO SOUTH SUDAN. KAFUE: SITUATED IN THE KAVANGO ZAMBEZI (KAZA) TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA (TFCA), THE WORLD'S LARGEST TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREA, KAFUE NATIONAL PARK IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARKS IN AFRICA, SPANNING 22,400 KM/SQ. THE NATIONAL PARK ENCOMPASSES A VAST NETWORK OF RIVERS, WETLANDS, AND INTACT WOODLANDS, CREATING AN EXPANSIVE TRACT OF THE ICONIC ZAMBEZIAN ECOREGION, PROVIDING REFUGE TO CRITICAL POPULATIONS OF SAVANNAH WILDLIFE. IN FEBRUARY 2021, THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA INVITED AFRICAN PARKS TO IMPLEMENT A 17-MONTH PRIORITY SUPPORT PLAN (PSP), DURING WHICH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE WERE MADE TO SAFEGUARD AND DEVELOP THE PARK. THESE EFFORTS PAVED THE WAY FOR A LONG-TERM MANDATE AND IN JULY 2022, WHEN AFRICAN PARKS SIGNED A 20-YEAR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA FOR THE FULL PROTECTION OF KAFUE. SINCE THEN, A MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS BEEN RECRUITED, ADDITIONAL RANGERS SELECTED FOR TRAINING, THE GREATER KAFUE LANDSCAPE LTD BOARD APPOINTED, AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN SCALED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MANAGING THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM. IN 2022, AN AERIAL SURVEY WAS UNDERTAKEN, FOCUSING ON ELEPHANTS AND LARGE MAMMALS ACROSS KAFUE AND THE SURROUNDING GAME MANAGEMENT AREAS. IN ADDITION, 36 ELEPHANTS, 16 LIONS, NINE WILD DOGS, FIVE CHEETAHS AND FIVE UNGULATES WERE COLLARED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, TOGETHER WITH THE COLLARED ANIMAL MONITORING DATA, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A BASELINE AGAINST WHICH TO MEASURE THE PROGRESS OF RESTORATION. WITH A CORE FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING PROTECTION TO CONSERVE KAFUE'S WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, AFRICAN PARKS RECRUITED AND SELECTED CANDIDATES FROM THE COMMUNITIES IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE PARK TO ESTABLISH A WELL-TRAINED AND MOTIVATED FIELD RANGER TEAM. OUR WORK IN THIS IMMENSE LANDSCAPE IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING THE FUTURE NOT ONLY OF THIS IMPORTANT BIODIVERSITY , BUT THE ESSENTIAL NATURAL RESOURCES, AND HEALTH OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS THAT REPRESENT THE HERITAGE OF GENERATIONS TO COME.AKAGERA:AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITIES. SINCE 2010, WHEN THE RWANDA DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND AFRICAN PARKS SIGNED A LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT FOR AKAGERA, THE PARK HAS TRANSFORMED FROM A DEPLETED, UNDERVALUED RESOURCE INTO ONE OF AFRICA'S PREMIUM WILDLIFE DESTINATIONS. AFTER SEVERAL LITTERS WERE BORN AT THE END OF 2022, THE LION POPULATION GREW TO 57 INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS SIX TIMES THE NUMBER OF LIONS WHEN AFRICAN PARKS ASSUMED MANAGEMENT. HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM THE PARK'S ONGOING OPERATIONS AND LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES. IN 2022 ALONE, NEARLY $1 MILLION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FLOWED FROM THE PARK INTO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN THE FORM OF REVENUE SHARING, CASUAL WAGES, LOCAL PURCHASES, ETC. THE PARK ALSO EARNED RECORD REVENUE THROUGH TOURISM, OF WHICH RWANDAN CITIZENS MADE UP 43% OF PAYING VISITORS. ONE SIGNIFICANT HIGHLIGHT FROM 2022 WAS THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE GISHANDA FISH FARM. GISHANDA SUSTAINABLY FARMS TILAPIA TO OFFER COMMUNITY MEMBERS AN ACCESSIBLE PROTEIN SOURCE, WHILE ALSO ENHANCING SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHODS AND PROVIDING NEW SKILLS AND JOBS, BENEFITTING BOTH COMMUNITIES AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION. THIS PROJECT RELEASED 111,000 FINGERLINGS TO RESTOCK LAKE GISHANDA, CONTRIBUTED TO THE ELECTRIFICATION OF TWO VILLAGES, IMPROVED THE UMUNEZERO PRIMARY SCHOOL BY PROVIDING CLEAN WATER FROM THE FARM'S BOREHOLES, AND SUPPLIED A COMMUNITY-RUN ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARM WITH FERTILIZED WASTEWATER. AKAGERA'S REVIVAL, THROUGH SOUND PARTNERSHIPS AND A CLEAR VISION, DEMONSTRATES WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE LONG INTO THE FUTURE.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$27.8M
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