CEO's Report

Fundraising:  Our strategic partner FondationSegréhas made a rolling three-year commitment to African Parks for approximately one million euros per year; and for 2018 they are supporting our work in Bazaruto and Odzala. We also have a committed group of donors in Hong Kong who are running a Year of the Dog funding campaign in support of our law enforcement work and K9 units this month and building up our base of friends and supporters in Hong Kong.  Liwonde National Park’s Manager Craig Reid ran the London Marathon to raise awareness and funding for Liwonde’s rhinos. To that end, one new donor has made a matching gift of GBP 5K for any contributions made for Liwonde’s rhinos and a total of £6,750 has been raised thus far. All donations go directly to the park and will be a tremendous support for his and his team’s efforts on the ground.  

Communications: African Parks participated in the UN World Wildlife Day on the 3rdof March in New York City at the United Nations, hosted by Secretary General John Scanlon (who now is full-time with African Parks) which this year highlighted the plight of big cats across the world.  Andrea Heydlauff, AP’s CMO delivered remarks, focusing on the transformation of Akagera National Park in Rwanda especially with the reintroduction of lions; and we initiated a campaign to celebrate and promote support for the protection of these iconic species. An important article covering the Central African Republic was published in the Washington Post, which highlighted Chinko’s positive role in bringing stability and development to the region as an extraordinary example of the benefits that conservation can deliver.

Recruitment:We’re very pleased to welcome Jimmy Kalombo, who joined our head office team as Financial Controller on the 15thof March.  

Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe:Matusadona was submitted to the African Parks board where it was approved, subject to a board due diligence scheduled to take place during the week of April 9th. We hope to conclude the agreement for this very promising project shortly afterwards. 

Mangochi Forest Reserve, Malawi: We were extremely pleased to announce on the 28th of March the signature of the agreement with the Government of Malawi to expand our management of Liwonde National Park to include the adjoining Mangochi Forest Reserve. The 320 km2reserve is critical to the long-term conservation of the entire landscape and expands African Parks’ management by 60% in this area.

Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Mozambique: Bazaruto’s first supervisory committee meeting was held on the 1stof March and the project was initiated, with two technical assistants recruited to help with the first three months of implementation. An infrastructure development plan for the park’s headquarters was completed, and a building was secured in the mainland town of Vilankulo to serve as interim accommodation before being converted in to the main office. 

Chinko, CAR:Chinko experienced early rains this month, bringing closure to the dry season while prompting cattle herders to begin their move northwards from the reserve. By the end of March, the large majority of herders had already left the area. Chinko’s team has successfully deterred herders and their cattle from entering the boundaries of the reserve for the duration of this year’s dry season and have secured a vast 20,000km2 area (twice the size of Yellowstone), a testament to their prevailing law enforcement and community efforts. Furthermore, monitoring teams continued to report of improvements in wildlife sightings, and conducted a survey which preliminary estimates indicate a population of approximately 1,000 chimpanzees within Chinko, revealing an important population for the region. To improve skills and personal development, 52 members of staff were trained in leadership and healthcare, and an operations team was given further training in radio communications by a representative from the NGO Invisible Children. Chinko received an incredibly strong mention in an important Washington Post article about the CAR, which highlighted Chinko as being the one bright spot in terms of governance in the country. 

Akagera National Park, Rwanda: The law enforcement team modified its patrol strategy which yielded good results in improving area coverage, while both law enforcement and community teams have been engaging communities around Lake Ihema to prevent illegal fishing. The first 30 camera traps which were deployed last month were collected and redeployed in another part of the park, to cover the entire landscape within a 12-month cycle in species monitoring. Tourist visitation continued to show nice growth, with total revenue increased by 21% on March 2017. The community honey project was particularly productive this month, with 1,035 kg of honey harvested from six community cooperatives, contributing to the local economy. 

Zakouma National Park, Chad: Preparations for the forthcoming reintroduction of black rhinos are a primary focus for Zakouma and are proceeding well on schedule. Representatives from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and South African National Parks (SANParks) conducted a site visit in Zakouma, facilitating good coordination in planning for the translocation and related events. In addition, three rhino monitors benefitted from a month of training in tracking and monitoring in Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi. The park has also hosted a series of theatrical productions in adjacent villages to raise awareness and engage communities around the news of the rhino translocation.  The elephant population continues to grow and thrive, with preliminary counted indicating the presence of 127 new elephant calves in March which is an increase on the 83 calves counted in February 2017. In terms of law enforcement, an eight-week basic field ranger training course was initiated mid-month while refresher training for rangers held by African Parks’ Francophone Chief Anti-Poaching Instructor is also underway.  

Garamba National Park, DRC: The park collared nine additional elephants in March, bringing the total to 61 collared elephants in the park, of which 18 have been collared this year. These steps are improving Garamba’s ability to monitor and protect its elephant herds. Garamba continued to take measures to strengthen its law enforcement team, conducting a firearms training course and starting the 2018 basic field rangers course from which 50 rangers will be selected from the 141 recruits. Teams completed the construction of a bridge across the Garamba river, fulfilling an important objective for the installation of key infrastructure to aid accessibility. 

Bangweulu Wetlands, Zambia: Significant progress has been made on the construction of shoebill Island Camp, which should be completed within the coming weeks. As a highlight in law enforcement, management is working on building relations with the provincial law enforcement authorities to improve their collaboration in curbing wildlife crime in the area. The fisheries committees continued to hold outreach programmes in every chiefdom to increase awareness around the value of fish conservation. Monitoring teams continued to record growth in the populations of translocated wildlife, which are regularly sighted around the Nkondo visitors’ camp, enhancing the overall tourist experience. Community teams have been mobilising local beekeepers ahead of the upcoming bee farming season, identifying materials and areas of need for training 250 people in beekeeping, which has long been an integral part of the subsistence economy for the local communities. 

Liuwa Plain National Park, Zambia: Liuwa Plain hosted a visit from the Honorable Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda and the Honorable Minister of Works and Supply Felix Mutati who were accompanied by African Parks’ CEO Peter Fearnhead and Deputy Director of Conservation Development James Milanzi. The visit concluded with the Ministers commending the public-private partnership and African Parks’ progress in leading the recovery of wildlife numbers in the park. The park held a formal update on the progress of the land use plan at a local government meeting, indicating it would soon be implemented to optimise land use by all stakeholders, protect the ecosystem and promote economic growth. The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) announced that the Kuomboka ceremony will take place on the 28thof April, and the park is helping to facilitate and support in the organisation of this extraordinary cultural event. The Kuomboka marks the ceremonial journey of the Litunga, the Lozi paramount King, from his dry-season palace to his wet-season palace on higher ground at Limulunga. 

Liwonde National Park, Malawi:We were pleased to announce on the 28thof March the signing of the agreement to expand African Parks’ management of Liwonde to include Mangochi Forest Reserve, a 320 km2adjoining forest and water catchment area. Ecologically-linked to Liwonde, Mangochi is critical to the long-term conservation of the entire landscape, and the full spectrum of African Parks’ operations in Liwonde will be extended to secure the reserve. The first basic field ranger course for 2018 was completed, increasing the law enforcement capacity of all three of the parks managed in Malawi. A total of 33 recruits graduated as rangers for deployment in Liwonde, Majete and Nkhotakota. Refresher training for patrol leaders from all three parks was also concluded. Plans remain in place for the introduction of additional lions to Liwonde from South Africa, with several animals secured for possible translocation in May. 

Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, Malawi: The administration team is now operating from the new Bua office complex inside the park, as VSAT internet was installed enabling its full function, which has increased the efficiency of operations. Thirteen new rangers have been deployed in the reserve after they successfully completed the basic field ranger course in Liwonde. A conservation highlight in March was the sighting of at least two new eland calves, indicating that the eland introduced last year are breeding. Having completed construction of two new classrooms for a local secondary school, the park furnished them with 50 new school desks. 

Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi: Majete continued to report positively on law enforcement and conservation in March, with particular highlights being the addition of 10 new rangers who graduated from the basic field ranger course in Liwonde, and seven patrol leaders also completing their training. In addition, there has been no evidence of poaching for the entire period. The reserve hosted four members of Zakouma National Park’s rhino tracking team to equip them with practical experience in rhino monitoring ahead of the reintroduction of the species to their park.  The Majete honey project got underway with the establishment of many new hives assisting alternative livelihoods and income opportunities.  The reforestation programme also proceeded well with 2,980 different tree seedlings planted in community zones. 

Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Congo:A new tented camp for law enforcement is being constructed in the north of the park to establish a base from which to increase the capacity and reach of operations. A community development officer will also be stationed at the camp, which is nearing completion. In conservation, all of the nine collared elephants continued to be monitored regularly, and the Odzala team worked with a representative from Gorilla Doctors to monitor a gorilla injured by a snare, and it is expected to make a full recovery. Odzala is collaborating with a team of various experts to holistically monitor and study the health of the gorilla population. The park’s diverse environmental education programme hosted educational activities for over 900 participants this month. 

Pendjari National Park, Benin: A new Tourism Manager, Yannick Aubry, has joined Pendjari’s team, and key meetings were held in Cotonou to initiate the tourism development plan. The second basic field ranger selection course was completed adding 39 more rangers to the park’s law enforcement team, while 35 candidates were selected to participate in the next course. African Parks’ Head of Law Enforcement reported very positively on the rangers’ commitment and training following an evaluation of their progress. Pendjari’s teams have been working closely with communities to demarcate the fence line of the park, with community members engaging positively in the process.

Media highlights for African Parks for March 2018 included coverage by the Washington Post, The Telegraph, CNN Travel, TV5 Monde, Lonely Planet, Lusaka Times, among others. 

ON WORLD WILDLIFE DAY, UN JOINS CALL FOR PROTECTION OF PLANET’S BIG CATS | Newsdog, 3 March 2018 

The United Nations hosted an event at their headquarters in New York to mark World Wildlife Day on the 3rd of March, which shone a spotlight on the plight of big cats using the theme ‘Big Cats: Predators under threat’. Representing African Parks, Chief Marketing Officer Andrea Heydlauff joined a panel discussion highlighting the conservations actions being taken to protect these species

BENIN, UN VENT NOUVEAU SOUFFLE SUR LE PARC NATIONAL DE LA PENDJARI | TV5 Monde, 9 March 2018

La National Geographic Society vient de rejoindre le partenariat déjà constitué par l’ONG internationale African Parks, le gouvernement béninois et la Wyss Foundation, pour la protection du parc de la Pendjari au nord du Bénin.

LIONS HAVE BEEN REINTRODUCED TO LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK IN MALAWI AFTER A FOUR-YEAR ABSENCE | Lonely Planet, 15 March 2018

The first of several wild lions have been reintroduced to Liwonde National Park in Malawi, after a four-year absence. The translocation is being carried out by African Parks in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, with support from the Dutch Government and the Lion Recovery Fund.

TOURISM MINISTER COMMENDS LIUWA CONSERVATION EFFORTS | Lusaka Times, 19 March 2018

The Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Banda and Works and Supply Minister Hon. Felix Mutati visited Liuwa Plain National Park over the weekend, the Minister commended the work being done by African Parks that has led to the recovery of wildlife numbers in the park.

LAND USE PLAN UNDERWAY IN LIUWA NATIONAL PARK | Lusaka Times, 23 March 2018

African Parks has announced that it will soon implement a land use plan in Kalabo’s Liuwa Plain National Park aimed at protecting its ecology and promote economic growth.

21 WORLD WONDERS THAT YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO VISIT | The Telegraph, 25 March 2018

Chad: Perhaps its most impressive natural attraction is the Ennedi Plateau. An expanse of hard sandstone assailed on all sides by the Sahara.

REBELS IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC ARE FILLING THE VOID OF AN ABSENT GOVERNMENT | The Washington Post, 26 March 2018

Reporting for the Washington Post, Journalist Jack Losh covered the instability in the Central African Republic, highlighting Chinko’s role in bringing stability and development to the region as an extraordinary example of promising governance.

French translation: Lu pour vous : Les rebelles en République centrafricaine comblent

THE MALAWIAN GOVERNMENT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH AFRICAN PARKS TO MANAGE MANGOCHI FOREST RESERVE, THE FIFTEENTH PARK TO COME UNDER THEIR MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA | African Parks, 28 March 2018

The Government of Malawi and African Parks announced on March 28th, the signing of the agreement to expand their management of Liwonde National Park to include Mangochi Forest Reserve.

FIVE GREAT PLACES TO VISIT IN MAY | CNN Travel, 29 March 2018

Malawi: Majete Wildlife Reserve is testimony to perseverance and hope. Poaching up into the 1990s decimated wildlife here, but now the reserve is restoring the land and wildlife population.