The W-Arly-Pendjari Transboundary Biosphere Reserve straddles the borders of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. Located in the West African savannah strip, it presents a mosaic of about ten plant formations including gallery forests, saxicolous formations and dense dry forests. It is one of the last refuges for the large mammalian fauna of these three countries but also of West Africa. Both a World Heritage and a Ramsar site, it constitutes the largest and most important continuum of terrestrial, semi-aquatic and aquatic ecosystems in the West African savannah belt.
Designation date: 2020
Networks
Regional network: AfriMAB
Ecosystem-based network:
Description
Map
Surface : 9,407,078 ha
- Core area(s): 1,385,232 a
- Buffer zone(s): 2,139,936 ha
- Transition zone(s): 5,881,910 ha
Location: 12°11'18.21"N; 2°5'55.73"E
Administrative Authorities
KIDJO Ferdinand Claude, Directeur Général
Centre National de Gestion des Réserves de Faune (CENAGREF)
08 BP 0227, Cotonou
BENIN
Tel.: (00229) 21380658 / 21380696 08
E-mail: cenagref@yahoo.fr
Hébié Lamoussa, Directeur Général
Office National des Aires Protégées (OFINAP)
01 BP 582, Ouagadougou
BURKINA FASO
Tel.: (00226) 25 35 34 15
E-mail: lamoussa_dh@hotmail.fr
Bila MAÏNA, Directeur Général
Direction Générale des Eaux et Forets (DGEF)
BP 578, Niamey
NIGER
Tel.: (00227) 20 72 55 14 /20 72 37 55
E-mail: bila_maina@yahoo.fr
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Ecological Characteristics
The W-Arly-Pendjari Transboundary Biosphere Reserve is a site of great importance for the conservation of biodiversity. The last refuge of giraffes of the species Girafa camelopardalis peralta, it is also the most significant territory for the conservation of elephants, lions vulnerable and/or endangered animal species in West Africa.
The establishment of a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve in the region creates a larger corridor, which contains sustainable natural resources and is rich in biodiversity.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
In addition to the rich fauna and flora of the complex, the buffer and transition zones of the complex are home to a community with diverse cultures and traditions, but all sensitive to the sustainable use of natural resources. The ethnic groups common to the three countries are the Gourmandchés and the Peulhs, who practice agro-pastoral activities.
The transition area is made up of the terroirs of the bordering communes where the activities carried out concern agriculture, animal husbandry, small trade, handicrafts, village hunting, fishing, education, development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), cultural tourism, exploitation of timber resources, sustainable land management, ecotourism, etc. The area of transition is made up of the terroirs of the bordering communes where the activities carried out concern agriculture, animal husbandry, small trade, handicrafts, village hunting, fishing, education, development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), cultural tourism, exploitation of timber resources, sustainable land management, ecotourism, etc.
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Last updated: November 2020