Phyllis Frazier

Niger creates the largest protected area in Africa

fox scf

On March 6 this year, the Niger Government officially established the Termit & Tin Toumma National Nature and Cultural Reserve. At 97,000 km² (37,450 sq. ml), or approximately the same size as Hungary or the state of Indiana, the reserve is the largest single protected area in Africa. Some 14 per cent of Niger is now made up of protected areas, thus achieving the recommendation of the United Nations Millennium Goals for Development.

The reserve will give much needed protection to some of the world's most endangered species, including the addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus), the dama gazelle (Nanger dama), the Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia) and the Saharan cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), as well as numerous birds, reptiles and smaller mammals.

The fruit of a process initiated in 2004 under the guidance of Niger's Environment Ministry and UNEP's Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), work was made possible by generous support from the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) and the European Union. Technical input was provided by the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) and Belgium's Royal Institute for Natural Sciences (IRSNB). Local stakeholders have also been heavily involved in the process, including pastoralists living in the area who see the reserve's establishment and successful management as a way to secure their way of life and the natural resources on which they depend.

Over the past six years, the Sahara Conservation Fund has injected over 250,000 euros ($325,000) into the project, including funds for ecological survey and monitoring, protection of wildlife, training, research on endangered species, salaries and general running costs, communications, fundraising and support for humanitarian work amongst the local population. This support has been of critical importance and SCF would like to thank all of its partners for this: Abilene Zoo, Adam Eyres, Addax & Oryx Foundation, AZA Conservation Endowment Fund, Buffalo Zoo, Calgary Zoo, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Erie Zoo, Exotic Endeavors, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Gilman International Conservation, Lynn Hall, Marwell Wildlife, Milwaukee Zoo, Nashville Zoo, New England Zoo, Oregon Zoo, Osnabruck Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo, Phyllis Frazier, Planète Sauvage, San Diego Global, Saint Louis Zoo, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Sheri Hanna, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Steadfast UK, The Living Desert, Wildlife World Zoo, Zoo d'Amnéville, Zoo Praha and the Zoological Society of London.

The establishment of the Termit & Tin Toumma reserve is a major achievement by any standards. Marking the successful conclusion of one episode, it also heralds the beginning of a new chapter for endangered desert wildlife in which continued support from all players will be needed to help the reserve meet its objectives to conserve Niger's precious natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations.

To find out more about Termit & Tin Toumma and on how to donate to this project please visit the project page.