On September 16, 2024, the Tri-National Sangha Foundation (FTNS) held an important session at its headquarters in Yaoundé. This event was part of an exchange and experience-sharing trip that brought together key stakeholders from the W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex and the Tri-National Sangha (TNS) to discuss crucial issues related to regional cooperation and sustainable ecosystem management. Coordinated by the OSS as part of the AdaptWAP project, this trip provided managers of the WAP and TNS complexes with a valuable opportunity to learn about innovative approaches to the management and conservation of transboundary ecosystems.
At the opening of the session, Mr. Donatien Biloa, Conservator of Lobéké National Park (PNL), emphasized the strategic importance of this event for the objectives of the PNL and for regional dynamics as a whole. His speech framed the discussions and highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation among Southern nations to achieve common goals.
The Executive Director of FTNS, Mr. Théophile Zognou, then delivered the welcome address. He placed this event within a broader context of South-South cooperation, stressing the importance of reinforcing ties among Southern countries to promote equitable and sustainable development. He also underscored the crucial role of local communities, emphasizing that their active participation is essential for the success of conservation initiatives, benefiting all stakeholders involved.
Mr. Bello, coordinator of the Regional Unit of the AdaptWAP project, expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, which followed a preliminary preparatory meeting held earlier in the year. He thanked the Cameroonian authorities for their hospitality and congratulated the participants for their commitment. He noted that fruitful exchanges and open discussions reflected a shared willingness to overcome challenges related to natural resource management and preservation efforts.
After adopting the program for the study trip to Lobéké National Park, the plenary session featured rich exchanges, particularly on governance, the functioning of the FTNS, the organization of stakeholders involved in management, and the financing mechanisms for protected areas in the TNS and WAP.
These discussions aim to enhance the understanding of managers of these global heritage sites in the face of biodiversity conservation challenges in the context of climate change. Additionally, this exchange represents an opportunity to create a network of actors from both regions of Africa, facilitating continued experience-sharing and discussions on new international directions for biodiversity conservation.