The Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris game reserve in the Central African Republic is a natural treasure of inestimable value. Unfortunately, since the 2013 coup, the park has been plunged into a period of insecurity, which has led to a sharp increase in poaching and destructive activities.
However, thanks to the intervention of the Central African government, UNESCO and the NGO Wildlife Conservation Society Program (WCS), a project to safeguard this exceptional heritage was launched in 2019. This project received generous funding from Norway, and it aims to restore and protect the Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris reserve.
The efforts made by the various stakeholders have already started to bear fruit. The site has been secured over an area of 8,000 km2, and poaching has considerably reduced thanks to the action of the ecoguards. In addition, the infrastructure that had been destroyed is being rehabilitated.
Signs of wildlife recovery are also encouraging. Surveillance cameras have recorded the return of populations of elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalo and other iconic species. These positive signs demonstrate a gradual return of biodiversity to the reserve.
However, despite these advances, several challenges persist. There is still a way to go to recover the entire reserve, which covers an area of 17,400 km2. Security remains a major concern, given the ongoing instability in the region.
In addition, it is crucial to raise awareness among local communities of the importance of preserving the flora and fauna of the reserve. These communities live mainly from hunting, fishing and gathering, so it is essential to provide them with viable socio-economic alternatives to encourage them to contribute to the conservation of the reserve.
The project to safeguard the Manovo-Gounda Saint Floris reserve is a glimmer of hope in the protection of biodiversity in the Central African Republic. It demonstrates that, despite the challenges, it is possible to restore and protect fragile ecosystems. It now remains to intensify efforts and mobilize the necessary resources to ensure a sustainable future for this exceptional reserve.