STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM CAPACITY FOR CONSERVATION IN CHINKO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, AND GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, AFRICAN PARKS (AP) MANAGES TWO SIGNIFICANT PROTECTED AREAS IN CENTRAL AFRICA: GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) AND CHINKO IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR).

THESE VAST WILDERNESS AREAS POSE UNIQUE CONSERVATION CHALLENGES, INCLUDING SECURITY, LOGISTICAL, AND TRANSHUMANCE-RELATED ISSUES, IN REGIONS MARKED BY POVERTY AND INSTABILITY.

WITH SUPPORT FROM STRATEGIC DONORS LIKE THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS), AP HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN ESTABLISHING STRONG MANAGEMENT AND STABILITY IN THESE AREAS, RESULTING IN NOTABLE CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENTS.THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF THESE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN GARAMBA NATIONAL PARK (DRC) AND CHINKO (CAR).

THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH TARGETED TRAINING INITIATIVES AIMED AT ENHANCING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT SKILLS, PROMOTING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE, AND STRENGTHENING ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PASTORALISTS, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY HELP MITIGATE THREATS IN THESE VITAL REGIONS.WHILE CHINKO HAS NOT PLANNED A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEMATIC TRAINING NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AS INDICATED IN THE NOTICE OF FUNDING, THE PARK HAS PROACTIVELY DEVELOPED AN ADAPTIVE STRATEGY.

THIS APPROACH ALLOWS THE PARK TO EFFICIENTLY ADDRESS BOTH IMMEDIATE AND EVOLVIN