protected areas

Nigerian Senate Approves Establishment of 10 New National Parks

Nigerian Senate Approves Establishment of 10 New National Parks

On March 28th, 2023, the Nigerian Senate granted approval for the creation of 10 new National Parks within the country. The decision was made following the adoption of a motion on the National Park declaration Order 22, which was presented by Sen. Gobir Abdullahi (APC-Sokoto) during plenary. Abdullahi explained that President Muhammadu Buhari had sent…

Kenyan wildlife policies must extend beyond protected areas

Kenyan wildlife policies must extend beyond protected areas

At least 15% of the world’s surface is governed by laws to protect its living species, including plants, animals and fungi. But this is not enough. The most recent estimates suggest that an additional 30% of the planet’s surface needs further conservation attention. Without this additional protection the world will continue to lose large numbers of species. What does this look…

Roads make development and conservation clash in the Serengeti

Roads make development and conservation clash in the Serengeti

New or upgraded roads in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem around Serengeti National Park will not reduce growing pressure on the ecosystem, a study shows. A proposed Northern Serengeti all-weather tarmac road that will bisect Serengeti National Park, a World Heritage site, has sparked considerable debate. Opponents say that the road could disrupt the migration of…

Africa’s protected areas most severely affected by conflict remain promising for conservation and rehabilitation efforts

Africa’s protected areas most severely affected by conflict remain promising for conservation and rehabilitation efforts

When Josh Daskin traveled to Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park in 2012, its iconic large animals were returning from the brink of extinction. Gorongosa, among Africa’s most spectacular wildlife preserves until the 1970s, had been devastated by an anti-colonial war of liberation followed by a ghastly 15-year civil war — a one-two punch that exterminated more…

Guinea approves creation of largest sanctuary for the West African chimpanzee

Guinea approves creation of largest sanctuary for the West African chimpanzee

The population of chimpanzees in West Africa has declined by over 80% in the last 20 years and in September 2016 they were classified as a critically endangered sub-species by the International Union of Nature Conservation (IUCN). As a result of this dramatic decline, the Government of Guinea has decided to implement its objective of…