Kankan Reserve, Guinea
Case Study C0062
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| Date | 1999 |
| Agency | National Directorate for Water and Forests |
| Donor/support agency | Local NGOs Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Guinea |
| Locality | Kankan Reserve (in particular Mandiana, Kérouane, Kankan and Beyla prefectures) |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Local communities living in the Kankan Reserve |
| Conservation goals | Preserve biodiversity in the Kankan Reserve |
| Poverty reduction goals | Improve the living conditions of the local communities by empowering them to manage the reserve and its resources self-reliantly |
Summary
The Kankan Reserve is situated in the eastern part of the Guinean savanna region. With an area of 535,000 hectares and 17,000 (officially registered) inhabitants, Kankan Reserve is one of the largest nature reserves in West Africa.
The responsible National Directorate for Water and Forests has made provisions for the participation of the local population in the management of the reserve's natural resources, on which a lot of people depend upon. The forest authorities in the four prefectures Mandiana, Kérouane, Kankan and Beyla, whose territories include parts of Kankan Reserve or its transition zones, are working towards conserving and sustainably utilizing the biological diversity of the area. The challenge of the project is to preserve biodiversity in the reserve, and at the same time, improve the living conditions of the local communities by empowering them to manage the reserve and its resources self-reliantly.
To this end, the forest authorities collaborate closely with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the population in the reserve. They are supported in this endeavour by the German side in the context of the sectoral project "Implementing the Biodiversity Convention", the goal being to establish a basis for a management plan that integrates the interests of all stakeholders.
"Institution Building for Biodiversity Conservation in Kankan Reserve, Guinea" is an individual measure in the context of the sector project "Implementing the Biodiversity Convention". It is being implemented by Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in order to support developing countries in implementing the Biodiversity Convention in their countries. The tasks of the project “Implementing the Biodiversity Convention” include, besides institution building and supporting the formulation and implementation of national biodiversity strategies, helping the local population to protect biodiversity and to develop sustainable concepts for using it. Another important aspect is to assist in recognising and protecting traditional and indigenous knowledge as well as to develop regulations covering access to biological resources.
Assistance in the development of guidelines and regulations for environmentally and socially sound bioprospection concepts also creates income for local people and empowers them to manage their resources thus creating incentives for sustainable use. The project’s tasks also include public education and awareness raising in the environmental sector.
Conservation impact
Increasing public awareness of environmental issues in general, and biodiversity value in particular, contribute to the protection of natural habitats. The identification of the most ecologically sensitive zones of the reserve and zones with high economic potential for the villagers creates the basis for sustainable use patterns.
Poverty reduction impact
The commercialisation of biological resources and products thereof represents a significant potential for asset building. The training of villagers in more efficient processing and conservation skills contribute to the generation of alternative incomes. Many traditional village organisations for groups such as hunters, fishermen and fisherwomen, and women who use certain species of medicinal plants are strengthened by being encouraged to manage these resources themselves.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Enhanced access to/availability of natural resources for local use
Reference 1
http://www.undp.org/seed/pei/share/forest2.html
Reference 2
http://www2.gtz.de/biodiv/download/guinea_e.pdf
More information
Christine Schäfer, Project “Implementing the Biodiversity Convention” GTZ Eschborn, Germany, September 1999