Sustainable management of natural resources on the outskirts of Sena Oura National Park

Located on the outskirts of Sena Oura National Park in the Mayo Kebbi region in south-western Chad, the cantonal associations of Dari and Goumadji have for several years been responsible for implementing the natural resource management charter for the two cantons. These associations have set up monitoring committees and support the socio-economic development of the cantons. The motivation and perseverance of local residents, backed by a German cooperation programme since 1995, made it possible to classify part of the village terroirs as a National Park. This project aims to support the establishment of joint management between the national park and the cantonal associations, in order to facilitate the implementation of the management plan for the park’s intermediate and peripheral zone. The project covers the 26 villages of the transition zone, representing nearly 13,000 people living permanently in the area. The two cantons, which have extensive wooded areas, border Cameroon and attract outside populations seeking to exploit natural resources. Sound management of the terroir should help protect these resources and contribute to enhancing the value of the natural heritage.

The specific objectives of this project are to draw up management plans for the terroirs of the transition zone in order to push the agricultural frontier back towards the periphery; to create a co-management structure for the new park and integrate the two associations of Dari and Goumadji into the implementation of all resource management actions in the transition and peripheral zones; to continue management, monitoring, surveillance and ecotourism activities as an extension of the mechanisms already put in place by our associations, adapted for the central zone where the Park is being established; and to strengthen the capacities of village monitoring committees to support the implementation of the Park’s management plan in the transition and peripheral zones.