African Parks is responsible for the rehabilitation and long term management of national parks and protected areas.

They do this in partnership with governments and local communities, and the goal is to make teach park ecologically, socially and financially sustainable in the long term.

And at the end of 2017, they were responsible for managing 14 protected areas in 9 countries (it’s now 15).   The areas spanned 40,540 square miles covering 7 of the 11 ecological biomes on the continent.  They have a large counter-poaching force with 1,000 rangers and over 5,000 staff across the parks.

They are undertaking various active management interventions:

• Extreme species translocations and reintroductions
• Providing security to create safer spaces for humans and wildlife
• Ensuring that local people benefit

Where security has been restored and governance established, they’ve seen the rise of civility and a better way of life has returned. 

There is tremendous momentum to make this rehabilitation happen and to continue to build on successes that African Parks has so far achieved.  

Founded in 2000, it’s a non-profit conservation organisation.

Their Annual Report for 2017 Restoration:  Nature’s Return highlights:

• The Chinko team achieved success on the ground keeping 10,000km2 free of cattle and giving wildlife a chance to return
• 39 elephants were collared in one of the largest elephant collaring exercises in Africa, giving them better protection from armed poachers
• The successful reintroduction of 18 black rhinos from South Africa to the Akagera Park in Rwanda, 10 years after they had locally become extinct.   7 years were spent making the park safe and reducing poaching to an all time low.  Singing children lined the route between Kigali and Akagera to celebrate their return.
• The park received 37,000 tourists for the year, making it 75% self-sustaining
• In August, 520 elephants were translocated from the Liwonde National Park and the Majete Wildlife Reserve to the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.  Tourism is on the rise here, and back in Liwonde the human-wildlife conflict has dropped dramatically as a result
• A long term agreement was signed with the Government of Benin for the Penjari National Park, the largest remaining intact ecosystem in all of West Africa, and a stronghold for the critically endangered West African lion and African elephant
• In December, African Parks signed a 25 management agreement with the Government of Mozambique to manage the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, the first marine reserve in its portfolio
• And HRH Prince Harry joined African Parks as their President.
  
  

African Parks’ model for its protected area management 

1. Law enforcement for the long term sustainability of the parks
2. Biodiversity conservation, with active management of the wildlife and their habitats
3. Community development – the process of building constituencies for conservation through economic development
4. Tourism and enterprise – well managed parks contribute directly to the local and national economy
5. Management and infrastructure – essential for governance and effective park management

African Parks goal is to manage 20 African parks by 2020.    You can be a part of this journey and give your support.   

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