Contribution à l’amélioration des statuts de conservation des carnivores dans les aires protégées de Fazao-Malfakassa et Djamdè
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Hipotrague
AGBO-ZEGUE NGO
Large carnivores like lions and leopards were present in Togo until the 1990s when protected areas (PAs) were ecologically viable but suffered degradation during the socio-political crisis of that period, leading to the decline of these species. From 2016 to 2018, anecdotal sightings of lions and leopards were reported around Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (FMNP). To scientifically confirm their presence, NGO AGBO-ZEGUE, with support from IUCN Save Our Species and the EU, launched a project in 2020 to establish their distribution and conserve habitats. The project aims to: (i) confirm the presence of lions and leopards in FMNP, (ii) identify and conserve their specific habitats, and (iii) promote findings for better conservation. Data on 37 mammal species were collected, enhancing understanding of FMNP’s biodiversity. The results enabled the improvement of PA management, boosted public interest, and strengthened conservation strategies in Togo.
Last update: 15 Jan 2025
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Contexto
Défis à relever
The Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (FMNP), a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) designated by the IUCN, is a biodiversity hotspot with unique geomorphology, including mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and seasonal grasslands. It hosts savanna and forest elephants (Loxodonta africana, Loxodonta cyclotis), roan antelopes, hartebeests, buffalos, and primates like Colobus vellerosus and Cercopithecus mona. Large carnivores are under-studied, with the last scientific data from 1990 (Chardonnet et al. 1990). Tracks of leopards (Panthera pardus) were found in 2014, and lions (Panthera leo) were reported recently, including a male in 2016 and a female in 2017. Livestock attacks have also been noted. In 2019, 100 camera traps funded by Oxford University monitored the area for four months. This project seeks to extend monitoring to better understand these carnivores and their status in Togo.
Ubicación
Fazao, Centrale, Togo
West and Central Africa
Procesar
Summary of the process
The success of the leopard conservation project in Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (FMNP) was achieved by connecting key strategic elements in a complementary manner. Developing the scientific infrastructure, such as installing camera traps, was critical for data collection and provided baseline information on species presence. This was supported by capacity-building initiatives, including training sessions for eco-guards, which enhanced local monitoring efforts. Awareness campaigns in surrounding communities fostered public engagement and understanding of the project’s goals. The integration of habitat assessments and corridor mapping between FMNP and Kyabobo National Park created a strategic framework to understand and maintain wildlife connectivity. Together, these components built a cohesive and effective conservation program, addressing ecological, social, and logistical dimensions to improve outcomes for large carnivore conservation in Togo.
Impacts
The Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (FMNP) leopard conservation project has demonstrated significant environmental, social, and economic impacts. Environmentally, it has reinforced the ecological integrity of the park, a Key Biodiversity Area, by identifying key species and their habitats, including 37 mammal species such as savanna and forest elephants. By mapping corridors linking FMNP to Kyabobo National Park in Ghana, the project has promoted transboundary connectivity, vital for the seasonal movement of wildlife, enhancing species resilience and genetic diversity.
Socially, the project engaged over 120,000 people in surrounding communities through four awareness meetings and two workshops, raising awareness about wildlife conservation. The training of rangers has empowered local stakeholders, fostering community involvement in biodiversity protection. Economic benefits have emerged from the potential for ecotourism development, with findings highlighting the park's unique biodiversity as a draw for tourists.
Quantitatively, the installation of 100 camera traps covering 15% of the park's area provided essential data on biodiversity while identifying threats like poaching, which involved 26% of human encounters at camera stations. These findings have informed recommendations for sustainable park management and hunting regulation, aiming to balance conservation with community needs.
Beneficiaries
- The Forest Resources Department of the Ministry of the Environment and Forest Resources with the ecological wildlife monitoring data that they need for the management of the Park.
- Local communities are made aware of the importance of the park and the resources
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 4 – Quality education
SDG 15 – Life on land
Story
Intallation of camera
AGBO-ZEGUE NGO
The leopard conservation project in Fazao-Malfakassa National Park (FMNP) began with a vision to address a long-standing mystery: were leopards and other large carnivores still present in Togo’s largest protected area after decades of habitat degradation and poaching? The situation in the 1990s had been dire. Political instability and reduced conservation efforts had left many protected areas, including FMNP, severely degraded, with large carnivores presumed extinct. Yet, whispers from local communities and eco-guards hinted at sporadic sightings of leopards and lions between 2016 and 2018. These unverified reports sparked the determination of AGBO-ZEGUE NGO to bring scientific evidence and reignite hope for large carnivore conservation.
With support from the IUCN Save Our Species program, the project deployed 100 camera traps across diverse terrains in FMNP. One inspiring story emerges from the training of local eco-guard Adjo Basile, a young farmer from the nearby Tem community. Before the project, Basile saw wildlife conservation as distant and irrelevant. However, after attending the training sessions, he became a passionate advocate for protecting biodiversity. His role in the project transformed his understanding of the park’s value, not only for wildlife but also for his community’s future. Adjo’s excitement peaked when he discovered a leopard’s footprints along the Mô River, a finding that he proudly documented and shared with the team. This moment symbolized the project’s success: turning local skepticism into ownership and hope.
The project’s impact has extended beyond conservation. It has brought communities together to discuss sustainable hunting practices, raised awareness about the park’s importance, and highlighted ecotourism’s potential to benefit the local economy. For Adjo and many others, the project has shown that protecting biodiversity can be a source of pride and opportunity, inspiring a new generation to steward Togo’s natural heritage.
