Overview
Protected areas are the core of conservation.
While Africa supports an extraordinary network of protected areas, the majority are too small and unconnected, making it difficult for them to support viable populations of wildlife and sustain Africa’s unique ecosystems.
These designated protected areas vary from strictly protected conservation areas, like national parks, to multiple use conservation areas, such as community conservancies.
Although the total area under protection has nearly doubled in the last five decades, some of Africa’s most prized national parks and game reserves have been degazetted or downsized. Expanding parks and working with communities to set aside land for conservation ensures that wildlife has a safe place to roam.