Ensuring the Park benefits both wildlife and communities

Wild Places
Communities

Key actors of its creation and governance, the communities living near the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park are at the heart of its conservation approach. The Park relies on the support of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities for its conservation project, providing jobs and opportunities in return, as well as improving access to water, education and healthcare.
Hands

Over 60% of families living in the two communities bordering the Park have at least one family member employed by the Park.

Health

An average of 330 people are treated in the health centers supported by the Park every month.

Education

More than 400 pupils are provided with primary education in Bomassa and Makao.

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Photo Credit: ©

Our Approach

Supporting an Enabling Environement

The Park supports the creation of wells, latrines, schools and dispensaries to ensure the improvement of key development factors: sanitation, education and health. It also covers the salaries of some teachers and nurses, offers pensions to the elderly, grants scholarships to students, subsidizes consumer goods and provides monthly transport to a market.

Community-Led Goverance

In addition to sitting on the board of the Nouabalé-Ndoki Foundation, representatives of the Park’s neighboring villages are in charge of their Village Development Fund, enabling transparent, collaborative management of the funds generated by the Park and the tourism it attracts, for purposes decided by the communities.

Creating Sustainable Alternatives

People who used to rely on hunting now work for the Park as rangers, guides or researchers. By supporting micro-enterprises and developing tourism offer, the Park has also provided economic opportunities for those it does not employ. By creating a fenced field, and encouraging chicken farming, the Park fosters sustainable protein production, and profitable activities.

Ensuring Lasting Impact

By committing themselves to conservation, the communities have embarked on a long-term journey involving several generations. The Park raises young people’s awareness of the importance of conservation, offers career and development opportunities, and fosters transmission of traditional knowledge that underpins conservation work.

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