W National Park
W National Park is part of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, a globally significant transboundary landscape representing the largest intact wild ecosystem in West Africa.
Named after the shape of the Niger River in its northernmost section bordering the Niger portion of the protected area, W National Park is an anchoring component of the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex, a vitally important 26,361 km² transboundary protected area, representing West Africa’s largest intact wild ecosystem. Together with Pendjari National Park, W National Park (WNP) is connected to a network of protected areas that straddle Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger.
The WAP Complex conserves a landscape of savannah, gallery forest and undulating plateau with thorny scrub in the north, and is drained by two large river systems, the Mékrou and Alibori, which form part of the Niger River basin. The area is refuge to the only viable populations of West African lion, cheetah and korrigum antelope remaining in West Africa, in addition to many other species.
While declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this remote region has suffered from a historical lack of management and financial resources, while increasing human population and rising militant extremism in the region placed natural resources under pressure. Acknowledging progress made by African Parks in Pendjari National Park, the Benin Government made a significant, long-term commitment in securing W National Park in partnership with African Parks to ensure the protection of biodiversity and the sustainability of the ecosystem for the benefit of the country’s people and wildlife. In June 2020, the Benin Government and African Parks signed a management partnership agreement to partner for the Benin portion of the park, spanning almost 7,000 km2.
In 2019, a Priority Intervention Plan was initiated between the Benin Government, West African Savannah Foundation (FSOA), and African Parks, aiming to improve conservation law enforcement, rehabilitate existing infrastructure, and strengthen collaboration with local communities. The plan was updated in 2022 to align the security strategy with the increased threat levels, ensure operations across the park, strengthen community development, and improve coordination with the Benin Government.
W Highlights
- The WAP Complex is the largest protected and intact ecosystem in West Africa with a high diversity of fauna and flora.
- Ranger teams in W work to support local communities and protect wildlife as they help to create stability in and around the park
- Several species are represented in the Complex as the last viable populations, including north-west African cheetah, West African lion subpopulation, and korrigum.
- Sustainable livelihood generation now includes beekeeping, shea and baobab harvesting and fishing, as well as the development of a new brand – “Pur” – for local WNP-manufactured products.
- The Environmental Management Plan includes the planting of over 16,000 seedlings on the park’s boundaries and in schools adjoining them.
- Over 6,000 schoolchildren in 77 schools have taken part in the park’s environmental education programme.
On the Horizon
The park's main priority is to implement full management activities, with an emphasis on conservation law enforcement and securing the area for local communities and wildlife. Our overall aim is to see W and Pendjari national parks become a centre of excellence for security coordination across the region. Species surveys, reintroductions of extirpated species and translocations of rare species will bolster the park’s wildlife populations.
Partners
In June 2020, African Parks signed an initial 10-year management agreement with the Republic of Benin to manage W National Park, the second park in the country to enter the portfolio after Pendjari National Park, which forms part of the same transfrontier park, W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.
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