Community Development

Population density around Zakouma National Park, within the Bahr Salamat Wildlife Reserve, remains relatively low. Local communities, both sedentary and nomadic, are highly dependent on the Reserve’s natural resources and on ecosystem services provided by the Park. Continuous engagement with these communities is essential to ensure that their needs are well understood, enabling the improvement of livelihoods and income-generating opportunities while sustainably managing natural resources. Community engagement

Open communication mechanisms enable local people to inform park teams of any suspicious activity or potential threats resulting from human-wildlife conflict. This enables park management to react by supporting local people in taking an active role in conserving their natural heritage. 

Dedicated PeriFerrick teams raise awareness and engage with transhumance pastoralist communities, offering information on access to pasture, water, basic supplies, and medicine. The teams also act as negotiators in the event of illegal activities and support the mitigation of human–wildlife conflict.

Zakouma supports teachers and learners from local communities with education programmes © Marcus Westberg

As part of African Parks’ Greater Zakouma Ecosystem education support, teachers’ associations receive contributions towards teachers’ salaries and school materials. Schools have been constructed and rehabilitated, encouraging education and literacy, with almost 400 scholarships provided to students each year. Through these initiatives, around 2,000 supported pupils can attend school annually.

The Camp Dari environmental education centre, located in the park, welcomes over 6,500 local visitors each year, offering them the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of wildlife and conservation. This free camp has been set up to receive school groups and encourage environmental awareness. In addition, over 1,800 children participate in Wildlife Clubs each month, further promoting environmental education and awareness.  

Zakouma has become the largest employer in the region, while also providing additional opportunities for income generation by facilitating local procurement of park supplies and developing commercial community projects, such as honey harvesting and production. With the support of unions and agricultural cooperatives the value chains of local products such as fruit, vegetables, chickens, chebe, shea butter, desert date oil (balanites) and honey are being developed. 

As of 2026, healthcare support for communities in the Bahr Salamat Wildlife Reserve is strengthened through the deployment of two full-time nurses in Ibir and Goz Djarat. This improves access to basic medical services for local communities. With support from the park, the two health posts served more than 10,700 community members in 2025, reflecting the importance of sustained investment in local healthcare.