Sangha Trinational

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Sangha Trinational
Situated in the north-western Congo Basin, where Cameroon, Central African Republic and
Congo meet, the site encompasses three contiguous national parks totalling around
75, ha! "uch of the site is unaffected b# human acti$it# and features a wide range of
humid tropical forest ecos#stems with rich flora and fauna, including %ile crocodiles and
goliath tigerfish, a large predator! &orest clearings support herbaceous species and Sangha
is home to considerable populations of forest elephants, criticall# endangered western
lowland gorilla, and endangered chimpan'ee! The site(s en$ironment has preser$ed the
continuation of ecological and e$olutionar# processes on a huge scale and great biodi$ersit#,
including man# endangered animal species!
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Bab# lephant * Andr+a Turkalo
,utstanding -ni$ersal .alue
Brief synthesis
Sangha Trinational /T%S0 is a transboundar# conser$ation comple1 in the %orth-western
Congo Basin where Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo
meet! T%S encompasses three contiguous national parks totalling a legall# defined area of
723,45 hectares! These are 6ob+k+ %ational 7ark in Cameroon, )'anga-%doki %ational
7ark in the Central African Republic and %ouabal+-%doki %ational 7ark in the Republic of
Congo! )'anga-%doki %ational 7ark is comprised of two distinct units! The parks are
embedded in a much larger forest landscape, sometimes referred to as the T%S 6andscape!
A buffer 'one of 8,797,55 hectares has been established in recognition of the importance of
the broader landscape and its inhabitants for the future of the propert#! The buffer 'one
inlcudes )'anga-Sanga &orest Reser$e in the Central African Republic, which connects the
two units of )'anga-%doki %ational 7ark!
%atural $alues and features include the ongoing ecological and e$olutionar# processes in a
mostl# intact forest landscape at a $er# large scale! %umerous and di$erse habitats such as
tropical forests comprised of deciduous and e$ergreen species, a great di$ersit# of wetland
t#pes, including swamp forests and periodicall# flooded forests and man# t#pes of forest
clearings of ma:or conser$ation importance continue to be connected at a landscape le$el!
This mosaic of ecos#stems harbours $iable populations of complete faunal and floral
assemblages, including top predators and rare and endangered species, such as &orest
;lephants, <orillas, Chimpan'ees, and se$eral antelope species, such as the Sitatunga and
the emblematic Bongo!
Criterion /i10= The propert# is characterised b# its large si'e, further supported b# the $er#
large buffer 'one, minimal disturbance o$er long periods and intactness thereb# enabling the
continuation of ecological and e$olutionar# processes at a huge scale! This includes the
continuous presence of $iable populations and natural densities of wildlife, including top
predators and large mammals which are often affected b# hunting and poaching elsewhere!
There is a full# connected mosaic of $er# di$erse habitats, including numerous t#pes of
ecologicall# remarkable forest clearings attracting ma:or wildlife aggregations and countless
plant species otherwise not found in the forest landscape! -nlike man# other forest protected
areas, the propert# is not a remaining fragment but continues to be part of a much larger
intact and landscape with good conser$ation prospects! This is increasingl# rare and
significant at a global scale!
Criterion (x): The propert# represents a wide spectrum of the species-rich humid tropical
forests in Central Africa(s Congo Basin, and pro$ides protection for a range of endangered
species! The flora is enriched b# species occurring e1clusi$el# in the man# t#pes of forest
clearings! T%S protects a large number of tree species which are hea$il# commerciall#
e1ploited elsewhere, such as the criticall# endangered "ukulungu! >n addition to $iable
populations of forest elephants, significant populations of the criticall# endangered ?estern
6owland <orilla and the endangered Chimpan'ee occur both in and around the propert#,
together with se$eral endangered antelope species, such as the Sitatunga and the
emblematic Bongo!
Integrity
The boundaries of the propert# coincide with the boundaries of three e1isting national parks
thereb# forming a large and contiguous protected area in the heart of the broader T%S
6andscape! The entire propert# is surrounded b# a large buffer 'one in all three countries
which responds to the intricate ecological linkages between the propert# and its
surroundings! This approach pro$ides an umbrella for land-use planning and for integrating
the legitimate li$elihood needs of local and indigenous communities with nature conser$ation
within the broader T%S landscape! 6ogging and hunting is banned in the national parks! >n
addition, the remoteness of T%S adds a natural la#er of protection from resource
e1ploitation! >t will be essential to ensure that the future acti$ities in the buffer 'ones,
including forest and wildlife management, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure are full#
compatible with the conser$ation ob:ecti$es for T%S so the surrounding landscape will satisf#
the needs of local and indigenous communities while indeed ser$ing as a @bufferA for the
propert#!
Protection and management reuirements
There is strong and committed :oint management of the propert# bringing together all three
States 7arties, an indispensable permanent reBuirement! The three national parks that make
up the propert# all ha$e management and administrati$e staff pro$ided b# go$ernments and
if needed complemented through international support from non-go$ernmental organi'ations,
as well as multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies! "anagement, law enforcement, research,
monitoring and tourism all reBuire coordination across the national boundaries! There is a
Trinational "onitoring and Action Committee /Comit+ Trinational de Sui$i et dCAction0,
bringing together the three countries at the ministerial le$el! A Trinational "onitoring
Committee unites the three countries at the le$el of regional administrations! These
mechanisms are effecti$e in pro$iding a :oint protection and management approach to the
propert#, and will need to be maintained and built upon!
The rights and traditional li$elihoods of local and indigenous peoples, such as the BaAkas,
are a fundamental and increasingl# recognised element in the management of the propert#!
?hereas in 6ob+k+ %ational 7ark /Cameroon0 there are use 'ones within the park, in the
Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo, local resource use, including
indigenous hunting and gathering, is not permitted in the protected areas thereb# affecting
local li$elihoods and creating the potential for conflict! This illustrates the crucial importance
of finding an o$erall balance between nature conser$ation and local resource use in the
broader landscape! The significantl# enlarged buffer 'one presents an opportunit# to better
understand and integrate the li$elihood needs but also the knowledge of local and
indigenous communities under the umbrella of a li$ing T%S landscape! The inscription on the
?orld Deritage 6ist presents a concrete opportunit# for the States 7arties to translate a
range of different commitments of the States 7arties regarding the rights of local and
indigenous people into action on the ground!
"aintaining the ecological $alues of the propert# will not onl# depend on law enforcement
but e$entuall# both on the standards of commercial resource e1traction in the buffer 'one
and the acceptance and support of parks b# the local and indigenous communities in the
surrounding landscape!