Zah-Soo, a national park under strong pastoral pressure

Feb 1, 2023 | NEWSROOM

The National Park of Zah Soo, located in south-western Chad in the Mayo-Kebbi West province, was created in March 2022 when the core zone of the Binder-Léré Wildlife Reserve and its periphery (north, south-east) was converted into fully protected areas. This process contributed to strengthening the status of this part of the reserve, which is still relatively intact, with the goal of preserving its ecosystem services and biodiversity, both of which have been severely threatened by the encroachment of agriculture and livestock farming on about 60% of its area since its creation in 1974.

Once rich in wildlife, with species that are now locally extinct (lion, hartebeest, tsessebe), and others close to local extinction (ostrich, Kordofan giraffe, buffalo, etc.), the Zah Soo National Park was established by the government of Chad to stem the disappearance of, and ultimately restore, the Sudano-Sahelian ecosystems. These ecosystems are crucial for local communities in the face of climate change, as well as for the restoration of the ecological potential of this protected area.
During the last aerial count, conducted by Wings for Conservation and covering the entire park in 10.9 hours, with 2,150 km of transects in September 2022, nearly 23,500 head of livestock were counted in the park, divided into 345 herds, including both small and large ruminants, and 172 nomadic camps.

With a park area of only 81,500 hectares, this situation is not sustainable.

Although the central part of the park is spared due to its inaccessibility (many areas are flooded by the rains), the north and south-east face greater pastoral pressure.

Below : Pastoral pressure in the park (red dots indicate livestock herds, others wildlife)

CURRENT SOLUTIONS

In order to reduce the pressure, the park management team has recruited 8 prevention and information agents from local communities.
Their task is to reach out to herders to inform them of the creation of the protected area and its boundaries, while also attempting to better understand their motivations, the reasons for transhumance and the routes used, the territorial structure of the area (market places, etc.) as well as the problems encountered by these actors.
This includes human-wildlife conflicts, and in particular damage caused by elephants, a problem that is increasing proportionally as the elephant population grows. The main elephant herd was estimated during the aerial count to hold 119 individuals with many newborns, which is indicative of its good health.

Below : Camp or “ferrick” in the park

FUTURE SOLUTIONS

Solutions under consideration include identifying available grazing areas outside the park that can be exploited, facilitating a framework for multi-stakeholder consultation and dialogue in order to reduce the risk of conflict, concrete short-term supportive actions such as herd vaccination and the construction of pastoral hydraulic infrastructure (wells, boreholes, ponds, etc.), as well as the option of fencing the park (partially or totally) to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, especially with pachyderms.

March 8th: International Day of Women’s Rights

The International Day of Women's Rights, which was formalized by the United Nations more than 45 years ago and whose origins are linked to the history of workers' struggles and women's demonstrations at the turn of the 20th century in North America and Europe, is an...

Focus on a challenge of the Conkouati-Douli National Park: cassiterite

Less known to the general public than gold, cassiterite, which is present in the park, is one of the most precious minerals in the world. Cassiterite is used to produce tin, which is an important component of many products such as electronics and automotive parts,...
UE Parcs de Noé Parc National de COnkouati-Douli Congo Conservation

European Union grant for Conkouati-Douli National Park

PRESS RELEASE Brazzaville, Tuesday, September 27, 2022. As a prelude to the launch of the project entitled "Converging socio-economic interests and ecological issues in the management of the Conkouati-Douli National Park", a ceremony of the grant contract was...

When the clay oven combines ecology and economy

In sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people have little access to electricity or gas, firewood and charcoal are the main sources of energy for cooking, accounting for three-quarters of the total energy demand. The 150,000 people who live in and around the...

About 4,100 dorcas gazelles in the Termit Massif

The photographic traps set up in the Termit Massif in the Termit and Tin-Toumma Nature Reserve in Niger allowed for a precise monitoring of dorcas gazelles in 2022. The analysis of the data collected leads to an estimate of 1.37 gazelles/km², which corresponds to...

Creation of Zah Soo National Park in Chad

Zah Soo National Park, the 4th National Park of Chad, with an area of 815 km², is a still intact core area of the Binder-Léré Wildlife Reserve. Located in the southwest of Chad, in a gradient of unique ecosystems of Sudano-Sahelian environments, this mosaic of...

Gorsala Endoui, patrol leader of the new Zah Soo National Park

Patrol leader at the newly established Zah Soo National Park for Noé in Chad, Gorsala Endoui is originally from Mayo Kebbi West. After passing the national forestry attendant competition in 2013, he completed paramilitary training. He completed...

Brillantine Djigbe, a bush lawyer

Brillantine Djigbe, a lawyer in the Binder-Léré Wildlife Reserve in Chad for several months, improves the monitoring of the application of the law and strengthens the capacities of agents  for human rights. She ensures the application of environmental preservation...

A partnership for the management of Congo’s biodiversity jewel

On April 13, 2021, the Minister of Forest Economy of Congo, Mrs. Rosalie Matondo, and the President of Noé, Arnaud Greth, signed a partnership agreement in Brazzaville to entrust the management of the Conkouati-Douli National Park to the French NGO for a period of 20...