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.