African Parks Organizes Information and Awareness Session for Journalists on Biodiversity Conservation

African ‍Parks, a‌ leading organization⁣ in the protection and management of Benin’s national​ parks, recently organized an‍ information and awareness ⁣session for journalists on ⁣biodiversity conservation and the African Parks model for managing national​ parks.

Falco Vignon

Objectives​ of​ the Session

The session aimed to inform journalists ⁤about the‌ African Parks⁢ model ⁤and the​ importance ​of public-private partnerships⁤ in managing protected areas. It also provided an⁤ opportunity to take ​stock of progress in the ⁣management and⁣ conservation of Pendjari and Benin national parks, and to present​ prospects for ⁤the conservation ‌of these parks.

Presentation of Communications

Before presenting​ the communications, Jacques Kougbadi, African Parks⁤ Marketing and⁣ Communications‌ Coordinator, ​explained that Pendjari ‌and​ W-Benin national parks are part ⁢of the ‍W-Arly-Pendjari transboundary⁣ complex, classified as a​ UNESCO world heritage site.

Various communications were ⁢presented to media⁣ professionals, including:

• The African Parks ⁢model and major developments in ⁢the conservation ‍of‌ Pendjari and W-Benin National ⁢Parks
• Participation of local communities in the management of Pendjari and W-Benin⁤ national parks
• Green Journalism: How to contribute to the 30 x 30 objective within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The​ African​ Parks Model

Franck Babatoundé, director ‍of peripheral actions ⁤of the Pendjari National Park, ⁣presented the⁤ three pillars ⁣of the African ​Parks model: ⁣biodiversity ‌conservation, community development, and income-generating activities.

Regarding the ⁢results, Franck Babatoundé noted an upward trend in the number of fauna, facilitating access to the ‌park, conservation efforts made by the community itself beyond‍ protected areas zones, land ​use planning, management‌ of human-wildlife conflict, and facilitating access to ‍resources within ⁤the parks.

Importance of Community Involvement

The African Parks management model ⁢is based on a partnership between governments‌ and communities bordering‌ protected ‌areas. This approach places ⁢people at the heart of ⁣governance for sustainable management, consistent with ⁣international standards.

Challenges and Opportunities

The session also⁤ highlighted the challenges⁣ faced by African Parks, including security‌ threats and conservation of wildlife and its habitat, especially in terms of endangered species such‌ as ​cheetahs, damalisks, and hartebeests.

Green Journalism and⁤ the 30⁣ x 30⁤ Objective

Cécile Goudou ⁣Kpangon presented a ​communication on Green Journalism, ⁣highlighting the importance of journalists’ contributions to⁢ Benin’s achievement ‌of the 30 x ​30 objective of ⁣the global⁣ framework on⁣ biodiversity.

She invited⁢ media professionals to take an interest‌ in​ environmental development ⁢issues, emphasizing that biodiversity is wealth for the global ‌economy.