A JEWEL OF CHADIAN BIODIVERSITY
The Binder-Léré Protected Area Complex, with a surface area of 1,350 km2, is located in the south-west of Chad, in a unique ecosystem gradient of the Sudano-Sahelian environments. This mosaic of Sudanese savannahs, gallery forests, rivers, alluvial plains and lakes makes this protected area one of the most diverse in Chad.
Designated as a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site), it is home to many emblematic species, including the third largest population of savannah elephants in Chad, the manatee (unique in Chad), the hippopotamus, the Kordofan giraffe, the leopard, the buffalo, the hippotrague and many other ungulate species.
The Complex provides important environmental services including grazing areas and fisheries resources.
However, its ecological and cultural potential is under strong anthropic pressure resulting in the reduction of characteristic ecosystem areas, the loss of vital vegetation cover to combat climate change, and a considerable decline in wildlife populations. Faced with this situation, the Ministry of the Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Chad and the NGO Noé, together with the local population, decided to strengthen the protection status of the heart of the Complex as a National Park.
Designated as a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site), it is home to many emblematic species, including the third largest population of savannah elephants in Chad, the manatee (unique in Chad), the hippopotamus, the Kordofan giraffe, the leopard, the buffalo, the hippotrague and many other ungulate species.
The Complex provides important environmental services including grazing areas and fisheries resources.
However, its ecological and cultural potential is under strong anthropic pressure resulting in the reduction of characteristic ecosystem areas, the loss of vital vegetation cover to combat climate change, and a considerable decline in wildlife populations. Faced with this situation, the Ministry of the Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Chad and the NGO Noé, together with the local population, decided to strengthen the protection status of the heart of the Complex as a National Park.
Arnaud Greth, President of Noé: "We are convinced that we can make the Binder-Léré Protected Area Complex a showcase for nature conservation and sustainable development.
A RELEVANT MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR PROTECTED AREAS
To limit biodiversity loss and climate change, a network of well managed, long-term protected areas is essential. Unfortunately, many of these wilderness areas are poorly managed. National authorities, donors and NGOs have therefore developed partnership models in which governments rely on NGOs to take responsibility for protected area management while at the same time being an integral part of the protected area's governance bodies. This is the case of this partnership with the objective of protecting this natural heritage and integrating it into the socio-economic development of the region, thus contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity and improving the sustainability of resource exploitation for the benefit of local communities.
To this end, thanks to financial partnerships with the French Development Agency and the European Union, Noé is committed to setting up infrastructure and equipment, organising the monitoring of the park, restoring animal populations, coordinating research and scientific monitoring, and setting up income-generating activities and natural industries for the benefit of the local communities.
The aim is for the Binder-Léré Protected Area Complex to become a true showcase for nature conservation and sustainable development.
Mahamat Ahmat Lazina, Chad's Minister of the Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development: "The signing of this partnership agreement is of the utmost importance and is in line with the government's policy on environmental protection, which places particular emphasis on the involvement of the private sector through partnerships as a means of environmental governance.
