The Boundou Community Nature Reserve (RNC) is located in the Tambacounda region, spanning the rural communities of Dougué, Koussan, Sinthiou Fissa and Toumboura. The populations of 21 localities, representing nearly 650 households, are directly concerned by the project to enhance this 120,000-ha reserve, which began in 2005 as part of the decentralised Isère-Tambacounda cooperation programme.
Boundou is a sparsely developed rural area with low population density. It has experienced uncontrolled resource exploitation, which, combined with other pressures (bushfires, poaching, drought, etc.), has led to the rapid degradation of ecosystems.
Local populations have observed this decline themselves: agricultural and livestock farming conditions have severely deteriorated, and at present, a large share of villagers’ income comes from family members who have emigrated.
In order to curb this rapid environmental degradation and sustainably enhance natural resources, the populations of four rural communities decided to convert a tourist hunting zone into an intercommunity protected area: the Boundou RNC. They committed to managing the reserve themselves, in accordance with a local code of conduct. The reserve is now managed by a conservancy body representing local populations and authorities.
The initiative is led by the Regional Development Agency, which works, among other things, on environmental protection and natural resource management — a responsibility delegated to local authorities as part of decentralisation. This Agency, established in 1998, holds the status of a local public administrative body.
The project aims to protect a regionally threatened ecosystem while enabling local populations to enhance the value of their natural resources and improve their living conditions.
