Community Development

Around 230,000 people live in 95 villages on the periphery of W National Park. Agricultural expansion has increased over the last 20 years with 5% of savannah and forest lost to agriculture on the edge of the park. Regional transhumance presents additional challenges with an influx of people travelling from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger with their livestock. To help address these challenges, close and continuous collaboration with local communities is important.  Positive relationships are being built between the park and the surrounding communities who play a vital role in contributing to efforts in creating security within their regions. Ongoing communication and awareness raising, as well as continued support for services, education and socio-economic opportunities remains a priority for the park teams.

Community facilitators raise awareness of the park and wildlife conservation © Jacques Kougbadi

To implement a livestock management plan, two pastoral zones have been established in the buffer area surrounding the park. These zones were developed in consultation with local leadership and integrated into the Land Use Plan. The Land Use Plan considers the needs of both farmers and herders, thereby limiting conflicts between these groups and supporting sustainable land use practices. Through this livestock management plan, 60 Eco-Tango team members have been locally employed to move in and around the park to engage herders on grazing access. 

To improve health and limit disease transmission between livestock and wildlife, cattle vaccination campaigns are rolled out annually. In 2024, 27,000 cattle belonging to 925 local herders were vaccinated. Beyond practical benefits, the initiative is also a vital engagement tool to build trust between the park and local communities, while raising awareness about park boundaries, wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict.

Trained community facilitators have been employed to raise awareness of the park and nature conservation. Through regular community meetings including local leaders, customary authorities and leaders of socio-professional groups, over 45,000 people have been reached to improve communication and the understanding of community needs.

Education initiatives remained a priority, with 25 community teachers supported across 24 schools, and materials distributed to 20 schools. A new multi-year education initiative launched provides long-term support for 25 vulnerable students.

Approximately 6,000 school children are reached annually through environmental education programmes and wildlife clubs – in 2024 alone, over 4,600 students and 230 teachers participated in environmental education programmes, while 18 school-based wildlife clubs engaged over 400 members. 

Income-generating associations have been formalised into cooperatives, where the bulk of the income goes to the communities and the remainder to the park. The four primary sources of income comprise beekeeping, shea, fishing and baobab products, followed by balanites and neem oils.

The brand “Pur” created for local WNP manufactured products is promoted and showcased at national and international fairs. In total, commercial activities generated US$20,800 gross income for the park in 2024, and US$20,422 was generated for communities from the sale of products such as honey, shea brandy, fish, baobab powder and pellets, and neem and balanites oils.